Russia has reportedly proposed transforming the Republic of Moldova into a federal state comprising the country’s current territory, the autonomous region of Gagauzia and the Transnistrian region. Furthermore, if Moldova joins the European Union, Gagauzia and Transnistria would be granted the right to hold referendums on independence.
The information comes from a Moscow plan discussed in unofficial negotiation circles, revealed by German publication Bild and cited by UNIAN.
According to the report, Russia’s proposal is part of a broader plan concerning an end to the war in Ukraine and a reshaping of Europe’s security architecture. In exchange for certain concessions, Moscow would reportedly be willing to withdraw its troops from the Transnistrian region. Russia would also propose withdrawing nuclear weapons from Belarus and abandoning plans to deploy intermediate-range missiles on Belarusian territory.
Asked to comment on the scenarios reported in the media, Government spokesperson Dumitru Ciorici said:
“The further the Republic of Moldova advances towards the European Union, the more scare tactics and provocations emerge from Moscow in an attempt to stop us. We remain focused on reforms and our European path. The EU is a project of peace and prosperity.”
Plan reportedly includes other major conditions for the region
Russia would demand that Ukraine surrender the entire Donbas region, including the territories in the Donetsk and Luhansk regions currently under Kyiv’s control, abandon its bid to join NATO and adopt neutral status. However, Ukraine’s accession to the European Union would reportedly not be ruled out.
Moscow would also seek the demilitarisation of the ports of Odesa and Mykolaiv, preventing Ukraine from using them as naval bases. Regarding European security, Russia would reportedly demand that NATO refrain from establishing military bases in Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania, and that Finland withdraw from the North Atlantic Alliance.
Bild notes that this is one of several proposals discussed in unofficial negotiations, and it remains unclear whether Russian President Vladimir Putin has endorsed the plan.
“Several groups of mediators are operating in parallel, including some associated with military personnel. They are competing with one another,” the German publication reported, as cited by UNIAN.
In recent days, several rounds of negotiations have taken place in Abu Dhabi involving American, Russian and Ukrainian representatives. Subsequently, US representatives held meetings with Vladimir Putin and Volodymyr Zelensky.