The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and European Integration of the Republic of Moldova summoned Russia’s Ambassador in Chisinau Oleg Vasnetsov and told him about the deep concerns over the assertions made by the Russian Ministry of Defense’s representative Ruslan Minnekayev. “The Ministry describes these statements as unfounded and contrary to the Russian Federation’s position of support for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Republic of Moldova, within its internationally recognized borders,” the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and European Integration says in a press release that is quoted by IPN.

In the meeting, it was also reiterated that the Republic of Moldova, in accordance with its Constitution, is a neutral state and this principle should be observed by all the international players, including the Russian Federation.

General Ruslan Minnekayev, acting commander of Russia’s Central Military District, said that Russia aims to gain full control of Donbas and southern Ukraine, while control over southern Ukraine means a corridor to Transnistria, “where we also see cases of oppression of the Russophile population”.

Several days ago, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and European Integration of the Republic of Moldova also summoned Russia’s Ambassador in Chisinau Oleg Vasnetsov and asked him to provide explanations over the statement made by a representative of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation, which the Ministry described as “unconstructive and unacceptable rhetoric referring to the President of the Republic of Moldova. Then, with reference to the law that bans the use of the symbols of the Russian military aggression against Ukraine, Moldova’s Ministry noted that “the decisions that were recently adopted in the Parliament of the Republic of Moldova are a sovereign right of our country. We reiterate our call to the Russian side not to allow interference in a democratic, legitimate and internal process of our country”.