Within the peace negotiations to end the war in Ukraine, not only the Ukrainian conflict will be addressed, but also the entire regional architecture, expert Andrei Curăraru stated in a public debate titled "Dangers of the new "spheres of influence" for Moldova, Ukraine and the EU”. According to him, the Transnistrian conflict will be an important topic on the agenda of these discussions.
Andrei Curăraru explained that the format of peace negotiations will evolve, given the position of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, who said that there can be no negotiations without the participation of Ukraine and the EU at the negotiating table.
"President Zelensky is very skilled in using these means of public pressure, while for Trump, in addition to economic gains, image matters a lot. I think that the negotiation format will evolve, given that Ukraine will manage to put pressure on the other two actors involved," said the international relations and security expert.
According to Andrei Curăraru, the format of negotiations on a ceasefire in Ukraine is flexible and can be influenced by Kiev and its allies in the European Union. Ukraine has levers that allow it not to accept conditions unilaterally imposed by Russia.
"The Russian Federation’s claims regarding the holding of elections in Ukraine in conditions of war or the enshrining of territorial losses through documents signed by Ukraine, are not exactly achievable, either legally or morally. That is why all negotiation formats are flexible. The EU, Ukraine will have enough levers to transform these negotiations," explained Andrei Curăraru.
He noted that in addition to the Ukrainian conflict, the Transnistrian dispute will also be addressed at the negotiating table. The expert stressed the need for the Republic of Moldova to strengthen its European path and to work closely with international partners to ensure a lasting settlement of the conflict on the left bank of the Nistru.
"It is clear that the negotiation process will take place based not only on the Ukrainian conflict, but on the entire region. We see the efforts made by the Russians to impose themselves in Georgia. We see how Belarus becomes Russia's "oblast". Putin seeks to strengthen his claims on other territories. The reactivation of the Transnistrian issue is taking place due to this energy crisis. The subject will be put on the negotiating table. What should the Republic of Moldova do? As U.S. President Roosevelt said: do what you can, with what you’ve got, where you are. We must signal the fact that for us, the European path is irreversible and to take fast steps towards the European path," said Andrei Curăraru.
The public debate entitled "Dangers of the new "spheres of influence" for Moldova, Ukraine and the EU" was staged as part of IPN’s project "Developing political culture through public debates". The project is supported by the German "Hanns Seidel" Foundation.
