The President of Russia Vladimir Putin aims not only to restore the borders of the former USSR, but also to restore the Tsarist Empire. Russia today is a threat not only to the ex-Soviet states, but also to the whole European continent, journalist Alecu Reniță, a member of Moldova’s First Parliament, stated in a public debate hosted by IPN. According to him, Moldova’s accession to the EU will mean definitive abandonment of the Russian sphere of influence, prosperity and security.

Ex-MP Alecu Reniță noted that for Moldova and for the safety of the whole Europe, Ukraine’s victory in the war that is being waged by Russia is extremely important. A powerful Russia can gain control over Moldova too.

“I fear that if the frontline on the Dnieper is broken, Russia will return to the Prut. So, when we try to accelerate particular processes to integrate into the Romanian space, there is also uncertainty and unpredictability as to “what Russia will do will”. Russia, if it becomes slightly stronger, will stop on the Prut, not in Tiraspol, as some say. Their goal is to restore the empire. Since Putin came to power, he has aimed to return not only to the borders of 1991, but also to the borders of the Tsarist Empire,” stated Alecu Reniță.

The journalist noted that Russia is a real threat to the security of the whole Europe as its territorial pretensions will not stop at the countries of the former Soviet Union.

“In the 21st century, to come and say that a nation with 45 million people does not exist - I refer to the Ukrainian nation – to say that this does not have history, civilization and is part of another nation is simply shocking. Whenever Russia is strong and united, it will use the power not for the population’s wellbeing, but for armament so as to later to be able to restore the Empire. That’s why Russia is a danger not only to the countries that detached themselves from the post-Soviet space, but is also a huge damper to the whole Europe. When Vladimir Putin said that he doesn’t want Europe to have its own army, he knew what he said. A Europe without NATO is a Europe outside a collective defense system,” said the member of Moldova’s First Parliament.

The journalist also said that Moldova can ensure its security and prosperity only by joining the European Union and NATO.

“A period of over 30 years should end with full integration into the Romanian space, into the European space and with collective security that can be ensured only by NATO. It is now very important for society to cultivate the respect for the national history. Beyond what is being taught in schools, the whole society should know the true history as, if all know the real history, the multiple problems imposed from outside will disappear,” stated Alecu Reniță.

The public debate entitled “European genealogy tree of Moldova” was the 22nd installment of IPN’s project “Impact of the Past on Confidence and Peace Building Processes” which is supported by the Hanns Seidel Foundation of Germany.