Foreign Ministry says Russia ready for challenges in Transnistria

The Russian side is ready for challenges on the territory of the unrecognized Transnistrian Moldovan Republic (TMR). This was reported by the deputy head of the Russian Foreign Ministry, Mikhail Galuzin, on February 10.

"Everything will depend on what kind of provocations and challenges to Russian citizens and military personnel on the left bank of the Dniester," he said in an interview with RIA Novosti.

Galuzin added that Moscow has repeatedly emphasized its readiness to adequately respond to any provocations and ensure the protection of its citizens on the territory of the DMR. He specified that "adequate response" means "a full set of possible means and forms of adequate response."

He added that Russia was ready for any development of the situation, Gazeta.Ru reported.

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Earlier, on February 7, Russian Ambassador to Moldova Oleg Ozerov said that Moscow was ready for an equal and constructive dialog with Chisinau. He also expressed confidence that the West would come to understand the need to build a new model of economic ties and security on the Eurasian continent together with Russia.

Gas supplies from Russia to Moldova and Transnistria stopped on January 1 due to Ukraine 's refusal to extend the agreement on transit through its territory and debts of the Moldovan side to Gazprom. In mid-January, Kremlin spokesman Dmitriy Peskov said that Russia was ready to provide assistance to the DMR and start humanitarian gas supplies.

On January 30, Transnistrian Foreign Minister Vitaliy Ignatiev said that at the moment there are no alternatives and mechanisms for gas supplies from Russia to Transnistria.

On the same day, Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova suggested that Moldova was interested in using the energy crisis as a weapon against Transnistria. The diplomat said that Russia offered a mechanism to purchase gas and supply it to the unrecognized DMR under new conditions. However, according to her, Chisinau prevented the implementation of this scheme.

On February 1, DMR leader Vadim Krasnoselsky said that the Moldovan government's emergency commission had decided to launch European humanitarian gas to Transnistria. A document approving the supply of the energy resource has been signed. The fuel will be purchased with a grant from the European Union. In this connection, the fan blackouts in the unrecognized republic were stopped.