The Foreign Policy Association (APE) condemns Russia’s attack on Ukraine. In a statement, the APE members describe the attack as unprecedented military aggression on the part of Russia in the recent history of Europe. The APE calls on the EU to support the Eastern Partnership member states that follow the path to European integration, IPN repots.

In the statement, the APE says that Russia’s actions are aimed at destabilizing the situation in Ukraine and in the region, encourage the separatist tendencies and the illegal annexation of a part of Ukraine’s territory and hampers the neighboring country’s European integration course. The events of the last few days reveal a phenomenon that can be called the Transnistrization of Crimea. Russia employs the same methods aimed at dividing society and at encouraging and institutionalizing separatism.

The APE calls on the international players – the EU, U.S., NATO, UN and OSCE – to take immediate measures to stop the military intervention of Russia in Ukraine and to stabilize the situation in the region, using political and diplomatic leverages and appropriate economic and financial penalties. It also requests the Moldovan authorities to take steps to increase border security, maintain public order and avoid provocations on the part of forces that are interested in destabilizing the situation in the country. The political parties and civil society organizations are asked to show unity and solidarity so as to ensure social cohesion and avoid tensions of any kind.