Moldova sees chance for progress on Transnistria amid Ukraine-Russia talks
Photo: Moldovan President Maia Sandu (Getty Images)
Moldova wants to force Russia to withdraw its troops from Transnistria. If real peace negotiations begin regarding the war in Ukraine, Moldova will raise the issue of the Russian military’s withdrawal from the region as part of those talks, stated Moldovan President Maia Sandu, NewsMaker reports.
Sandu noted that the need to push Russia to withdraw its troops from Transnistria remains unchanged. Moldova prioritizes peaceful reintegration, but the presence of Russian forces in the region poses a major obstacle.
"To talk about reintegration, we must resolve a key issue — the withdrawal of Russian troops from Transnistrian territory. We know what reintegration is; we’ve calculated everything — the timeline, the stages, the costs. And some elements are already being implemented," she said.
Sandu emphasized that while Moldova is currently receiving financial support from the European Union, Transnistria cannot count on a share of these funds, except through specific projects. Chișinău will not finance a territory where Russian forces are stationed. Therefore, the withdrawal of Russian troops from Transnistria remains a pressing issue.
"We consistently raise this demand at every forum and in every meeting with our international partners, and our partners support us in insisting that Russia must withdraw its army," she added.
According to the Moldovan President, there are currently no signs that the Kremlin intends to stop the war in Ukraine. However, if peace negotiations begin, a "window of opportunity" may open for resolving the Transnistrian issue.
"If real peace talks on Ukraine begin, it may also open a window of opportunity for us to raise and resolve the issue of withdrawing the Russian army from our territory," Sandu stated.
Russian forces in Transnistria
Currently, around 1,500 Russian soldiers are stationed in the territory of the unrecognized state entity known as the Pridnestrovian Moldavian Republic. However, the majority of them are local residents who have joined the Russian army. Only a small portion of these troops are Russian nationals.
In early June 2025, Moldovan Prime Minister Dorin Recean stated that Russia is seeking to deploy approximately 10,000 troops to Transnistria. This would allow Moscow to significantly reinforce its military presence in the region.
