All the types of Moldovan goods can be exported to the Russian market by transiting Ukraine as of January 30 this year, President Igor Dodon announced after a meeting with the President of Russia Vladimir Putin in Moscow. The official said that now that Russia annulled the customs duties on the import of Moldovan goods, trade between the two countries will increase swiftly, IPN reports.

According to the presidential press service, in the meeting the two officials discussed the Moldovan-Russian cooperation in the commercial, economic and humanitarian sectors. Assessing the results of the two-year cooperation relations, Igor Dodon said all the preconditions are being created for the current Moldovan-Russian relations to be brought to a new level.

Igor Dodon informed Vladimir Putin about the actions taken to amnesty the Moldovan citizens according to Articles 26 and 27 of the Russian legislation on migration. 2,000 Moldovans already benefitted from this decision taken by the Russian competent bodies.

As to the situation in Transnistria, Igor Dodon said the definitive settlement of the Transnistrian conflict can be ensured only by keeping Moldova’s sovereignty and territorial integrity in its internationally recognized borders.

President Dodon told his Russian counterpart that he took the decision not to run in the February 24 elections and to support the electoral contenders so that the parliamentary elections are held correctly and democratically. He expressed his confidence that a Government will be formed after the elections and this will make effort to restore the relations with Russia so that they are based on mutually advantageous cooperation and the strategic partnership.

For his part, Vladimir Putin said in 11 months of last year trade between Moldova and Russia increased by 29.5%, rising to about US$ 1.38 billion. This is more than throughout 2017. “We took additional decisions concerning products made from fruit and vegetable at your request, concerning the wine products. These decisions, as it is shown in the resolution of the Government, will be valid by the end of this March,” stated Vladimir Putin, being quoted in a press release of the Russian Presidential Office.

As to the results of the parliamentary elections, President Putin said the Russians are not indifferent to the way in which the future Parliament of Moldova is formed given that the legislative body forms the Government and depends on it. The Moldova-Russian relations will also depend on this.

Igor Dodon is paying a working visit to Moscow during January 29-31. Today he will have a meeting with Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and all Russia.