Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has intensified rhetoric against Moldova, likening its government, referred to as the 'Regime in Chisinau', to Ukraine's and accusing it of discriminating against Russian culture, a claim deemed false by critics. Lavrov's statements, which include threats towards the 'Moldovan regime' and comparisons of the situation in Moldova with Ukraine, have raised concerns of a potential Russian pre-invasion playbook similar to the one used before the invasion of Ukraine on March 1. Kremlin officials have also met with leaders from Moldova's pro-Russian autonomous region Gagauzia, emphasizing support against what Russia perceives as Moldovan oppression. This comes amid Russia's longstanding opposition to NATO's eastward expansion, which Lavrov blames for the crisis in Ukraine. Analysts and journalists highlight the strategic importance of Moldova, noting Russia's potential to use the Transnistrian region to block Moldova's EU integration and increase threats towards both Moldova and Ukraine, especially with the economic pressure on Transnistria. The situation underscores the geopolitical tensions in the region, with Moldova's pro-European government facing challenges from pro-Russian opposition ahead of contested elections in October.
If the US abandons Ukraine and allows Russia to gain ground in southern Ukraine, Putin's next target will be plucky Moldova. The brave people of Moldova have tried so hard to join the West, and Moscow wants to crush that effort. https://t.co/K7dkyiaRJd
As Moldova is preparing for highly contested elections in October, and the pro-Russian opposition is seeking to increase its standing, experts agree that Russia can use the highly dependent region to increase the threat for Kyiv and Chisinau. https://t.co/oZ6c4O3xPG
My piece for @KyivIndependent on the dangers Transnistria pose to Moldova and Ukraine. "If a pro-Russian government comes to Chisinau, that would be a catastrophe for Ukrainians because it would open a second front," an expert told me. Read more: https://t.co/wi8pDGX1JT https://t.co/MB137DNDui
Moscow wants to block Moldova's integration into EU by making Transnistria case widely known. In Brussels, many decision-makers have learned about existence of this breakaway region just now. Seeing diminishing support for Ukraine, Putin counts on even less support for Moldova.
Kremlin is interested to show the world that it may go beyond Ukraine and create another war in Moldova. Maybe, in Georgia too. This is another geopolitical offer from Vladimir Putin, where he is prepared to sell his inaction in Moldova and Georgia for Western inaction in Ukraine
What kind of plans does Russia have for Moldova? - a country with problematic Transnistrian region, where Russians own a military base and separatist ideology which might be put to use. To know more about this, read my fresh article from Kyiv. https://t.co/qC0C6nEXZs
A day after Medvedev says Russia will do the same to Europe as they've done to Ukraine and Lavrov tells Moldova that they'll do the same to Moldova as they've done to Ukraine, Lavrov is sent out to promise that Russia won't attack Eastern Europe. https://t.co/PdM9QHWPRV
Russia launches the pre-invasion playbook in Moldova. A "breakaway region" of the small state asks for Russian "protection" (against a peaceful, open, pro-European Moldovan government) https://t.co/I98SAq3Xs5
Lavrov threatens "Moldovan regime" over Transnistria. He compares Moldova with Ukraine and says that "the situation is identical." https://t.co/OdQ1CyfyVy https://t.co/y05UOpBnSF
The Moldovan regime is following closely the path of the Kyiv regime. The regime in Chisinau is following in the footsteps of the Kyiv one - abolishing everything Russian and, together with the Ukrainians, putting serious economic pressure on Transnistria. ️We called on the… https://t.co/6lM0EeW6ed
Russian FM Sergey Lavrov: “We had warned our Western colleagues for years, that there would be disastrous consequences of NATO expanding to the East, & engulfing that country [Ukraine].” https://t.co/6m1WqNAdWP
More Key Takeaways from the March 1 Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment (🧵1/4): Kremlin officials met with leaders of the pro-Russian Moldovan autonomous region Gagauzia and emphasized Russia’s support for Gagauzia against perceived Moldovan “oppression” on March 1. https://t.co/f7bARkMNUf
Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov saying all the things about Moldova that he did about Ukraine just before Russia invaded. “The Moldovan regime is following in the footsteps of the Kiev one,” Lavrov. “Everything Russian is being cancelled. If we were Moldova, we would take this… https://t.co/eMimDMerKB
"The Moldovan regime is following in the footsteps of the Kyiv one", - Lavrov 🐴 P.S. I have already heard it somewhere...
After 'the regime in Kyiv', Lavrov is now talking about the 'Regime in Chisinau', referring to the government of Moldova. Lavrov stated that the Moldovan government is following in the footsteps of Ukraine. https://t.co/itzmn6FjAW
Lavrov said Moldova is following into Kyiv’s footsteps discriminating everything Russian. That is false - we still have schools teaching in Russian, Russian language theatres, papers etc. Which is more than minorities get in Russia or even in Europe https://t.co/dF0aiXKOd9