Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov warned that the Republic of Moldova could “repeat Ukraine’s mistake” if it continues to strengthen ties with Europe and maintain what Moscow calls a confrontational stance toward Russia, antena3.ro reports.
“Moldova is making a grave mistake. Another country made this mistake before, and it brought nothing good,” Peskov said, quoted by TASS and the Moscow Times. He added that Moldova “has nothing to gain” by pursuing closer relations with the European Union.
Peskov issued the warning after Chisinau approved a new military strategy until 2035, which names Russia as the main threat to national security.
“The current Moldovan leadership is making a grave mistake,” Peskov emphasized. “They believe that moving closer to Europe automatically means complete antagonism toward Russia. Another country made this mistake before, and it brought nothing good.”
The Moldovan government adopted the new strategy on October 8, identifying the war Russia launched against Ukraine as a key threat to regional stability. The document warns that Moscow may attempt to create a land corridor reaching Moldova’s borders and does not rule out the risk of the conflict spreading into Moldovan territory.
The strategy highlights the presence of about 1,000 Russian soldiers in Transnistria as a continuing threat. In response, Moldovan authorities plan to increase the national army’s size by one-third and raise defense spending to 1% of GDP.
Officials also intend to align Moldova’s defense sector with NATO standards. The strategy states that the country’s constitutional neutrality requires it to take “all necessary measures, including military actions, for its own defense,” while allowing participation in international military exercises.