On Wednesday, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken will arrive in Chisinau, Moldova. In those meetings in Moldova he will meet with President Maia Sandu, with the prime minister, with other officials. He’ll have an opportunity to highlight Moldova’s progress in its path toward European integration, its solidifying its democracy, and the threat posed by the Russian interference in its internal processes. The assistant Secretary for European and Eurasian Affairs James O’Brien reported it.
“I anticipate he’ll have a robust package of support for Moldova’s transition, both energy independence or less dependence on sources to the east but also on support for democracy against Russian threats, but the specifics we’ll leave for the day.
On Transnistria itself, there’s not a direct military threat that we see at this time, but there’s ongoing Russian influence operations, and that is of concern.
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What we have seen over the last two years is a real benefit to citizens both in Transnistria and Moldova from loosening dependence on Russia and from the increasing European integration of Moldova. And we think that that gives a strong basis in Transnistria as well as in Moldova as a whole for continuing that path, and that’s obviously of real importance as they face a crucial election this year. On the broader Transnistria question, we’re continuing to support the OSCE-led process that will lead to a comprehensive settlement, we think.
So, in Moldova, President Sandu has been a target of Russian disinformation and aggressive operations since her inauguration. And we think that her success in delivering better results for Moldovans and in integrating further to Europe over the last years demonstrates that it’s a wise course. Obviously, people of Moldova will have a chance to decide. We want them to decide in a free and fair environment with as little interference and disinformation as possible, and the Secretary’s visit will reinforce that point,” he stressed.