Moldau beobachtet die prorussische Region Transnistrien im Hinblick auf eine mögliche Eskalation – Minister

By Alexander Tanas

CHISINAU, Mar 22 (Reuters) – Moldova is monitoring the pro-Russian separatist region of Transnistria in the east of the country for any signs of escalating tensions following Russia’s invasion of neighboring Ukraine, Moldovan Foreign Minister Nicu Popescu said on Tuesday.

Trasnistria is a narrow strip of territory held by pro-Russian separatists that stretches across eastern Moldova, approaching about 40 kilometers from the Ukrainian port of Odessa.

Russian troops are stationed in Trasnistria, despite repeated calls by Moldovan President Maia Sandu for them to leave.

Ukraine fears that Trasnistria could be used as a new front, putting more pressure on Odessa.

„So far the situation is calm. We have not seen any movement towards escalation,“ Popescu said in the European Parliament.

„Taking into account what has happened before in the region, we, as a government, cannot rule out any options and must consider the whole range of scenarios for the development of events, including negative ones.“

Russian peacekeepers appeared in Trasnistria after it fought a brief war with Moldova in 1992 and declared itself an independent state. It remains unrecognized by any country, including Russia.

In early February, Russian forces conducted military maneuvers in Trasnistria as part of a buildup of Russian troops near eastern Ukraine leading up to the February 24 invasion.

The war has pushed Moldova to accelerate its bid to join the European Union and has put enormous pressure on its economy, forcing more than 331,000 refugees to cross the border from Ukraine, about 100,000 of whom have remained in the country.

On Tuesday, Moldovan gas importer Moldovagaz warned that the country also faces a potential energy price crisis that could see what it pays for gas from Russia rise to $1,000 per 1,000 cubic meters in April, from the current level of $547, due to a sharp rise in gas prices in Europe.

But Moldovagaz director Vadim Cheban told reporters that the company „will not rush to demand an increase in consumers‘ gas tariffs.“

(Writing by Alessandra Prentice; editing by Nick Macfie; translation by Dario Fernandez)