The 5+2 negotiation format has only diluted a problem that “would normally take a few hours to solve”; the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Moldova were violated when a self-proclaimed republic not even recognized by Moscow was allowed to establish itself as a de facto autonomy, thinks Cristian Diaconescu, former foreign minister of Romania.

During a TVR Moldova program, Diaconescu declared that “the whole 5+2 project is a failure and should be replaced with another variant”.

Cristian Diaconescu believes that in the context of the Ukraine war, it is probably difficult to find a formula within international organizations, be it the UN or the OSCE, but on the other hand, he says, the matter must not be abandoned.

According to Diaconescu, Chisinau and Bucharest have the responsibility to clarify with their partners how to position themselves in the future. This is because, if for various reasons this area becomes vulnerable, the entire Euro-Atlantic space becomes vulnerable, he added.

In a recent IPN op-ed, the political pundit Anatol Țăranu suggested Moldova should seek the replacement of the 5+2 format with an arrangement that includes neighboring Romania and Ukraine.

“The creation of such a trilateral will serve as a basis for developing a new international mediation and definitive Transnistrian settlement mechanism after the achievement of peace in Ukraine. Russia will be in time attracted to take part in this future extended international definitive Transnistrian settlement mechanism, but without having the right of veto on final decisions. At the same time, until the extended international format for the Transnistrian problem is constituted, the EU and NATO will have a say in the trilateral through the agency of their member Romania”, suggested Țăranu.