US proposes Russia to replace Russian peacekeepers in Transnistria with multinational forces

Washington sees a multinational peacekeeping force including Russia in the Transnistrian region as a way to resolve a linked dispute with Moscow over arms control, and requests the transportation of the Russian ammunition stored on the left bank of the Nistru River, Reuters reports, quoted by the Romanian “Ziua” newspaper. "The United States is considering and discussing with our NATO allies options where we can propose to the Russians an alternative peacekeeping force for Transnistria, one that is genuinely multilateral with Russian participation," U.S. assistant secretary for Verification, Compliance and Implementation Paula DeSutter said. Western diplomats say Transnistria is the most contentious issue behind Russian President Vladimir Putin's announcement last month that Moscow was freezing its commitments under the Conventional Forces in Europe (CFE) treaty. NATO nations say they will not ratify an adapted version of the CFE accord until Russia has fulfilled commitments to remove its troops from Georgia and Moldova. With the Russian withdrawal already underway in Georgia, Moldova's Transnistria is seen as the real sticking point, Reuters reminds. Russia announced last month that it would no longer receive foreign inspections or send notifications on troops' movement under the CFE treaty.