Facebook Twitter Instagram Youtube LinkedIn Telegram

FAKE NEWS: The Republic of Moldova wants to trade territories with Ukraine

Moldovan President Maia Sandu (L) and her Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelensky (R) attend a joint press conference following their meeting in Kyiv (Kiev), Ukraine, 27 June 2022.
©EPA-EFE/SERGEY DOLZHENKO  |   Moldovan President Maia Sandu (L) and her Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelensky (R) attend a joint press conference following their meeting in Kyiv (Kiev), Ukraine, 27 June 2022.
Festivalul de conferințe

The Republic of Moldova wants to trade territories with Ukraine, conceding Transnistria in exchange for southern Bessarabia and Bukovina, according to a Russian publication that reinterprets a statement made by an MP representing the Moldovan Parliament majority. The same source also picks up on a number of older false narratives about the Republic of Moldova and raises the question of Moscow recognizing the independence of Transnistria.

NEWS: “According to the “Кремлевская прачка” [Telegram] account [the Kremlin Laundry], Vasile Șoimaru, a deputy with the Action and Solidarity Party controlled by Maia Sandu, argued in favor of offering Transnistria to Ukraine. In other words, Moldova should concede the territory of this recognized republic, which is home to the Operational Group of Russian Forces.

Washington has long demanded the evacuation of Russian military from the region. “We could have given Transnistria to Ukraine, trading it for historical Bessarabia and the territory of Bukovina beyond Chernivtsi”, the Moldovan MP said.

By the way, in early September, the former commander of the United States Army Europe, Ben Hodges, said “Maybe it’s time for Ukraine and Moldova to resolve the Transniestra problem now. Kremlin really can’t stop it at this point”.

[…]

Neutrality consists in the total support of Ukraine and using Moldova as a hub for the transit of Western weapons and wounded Ukrainian soldiers.

[…]

Perhaps the time has come for Russia to finally recognize Transnistria, without further waiting for rockets to come flying from Moldova”.

NARRATIVES: 1. The Republic of Moldova is ready to concede Transnistria as part of a territory exchange with Ukraine. 2. The Republic of Moldova got involved in the war, siding with Ukraine and breaching its neutrality status. 3. Russia should recognize the independence of Transnistria.

BACKGROUND: The Republic of Moldova is the de facto heir to the Moldovan Soviet Socialist Republic (MSSR), a state created after the USSR occupied the territory of Bessarabia in 1940. At the time, northern Bukovina and southern Bessarabia were incorporated in the Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic. In exchange, Transnistria was annexed to the MSSR. In 1990, the region proclaimed its independence. Although it was never officially recognized by Moscow as such, Transnistria was and continued to be endorsed by the Kremlin. The region is also home to a Soviet-era munition depot, guarded by a Russian military force, despite Moscow officially pledging at the OSCE Summit of 1999 to withdraw its troops and military-grade munition from the area by the end of 2001.

Transnistria is considered one of the main elements Russia is using to blackmail Chișinău. Various Russian officials have either threatened or argued in favor of recognizing the independence of this breakaway region. After the start of the war in Ukraine, Kyiv has repeatedly referred to the security risk posed by this separatist region, despite its insignificant military strength. Chișinău has insisted on a peaceful resolution of the Transnistrian conflict.

PURPOSE: To create dissension between Chișinău and Kyiv, to promote the idea that the Republic of Moldova is an ally of Ukraine and an enemy of Moscow, thus justifying a potential Russian military aggression in this country.

WHY THE NARRATIVES ARE FALSE: Chișinău favors a peaceful resolution to the conflict in Transnistria, claiming the region is part of the Republic of Moldova, which is something the Moldovan Constitution recognizes. No Moldovan official has ever discussed the possibility of trading territories with Ukraine.

The statement made by PAS MP Vasile Șoimaru is taken out of context and misinterpreted. In an interview for jurnal.md, the Moldovan official addressed the time when the Republic of Moldova proclaimed its independence in 1992. Șoimaru referred to the trade of territories as a possible scenario for that period of time, not today. Conversely, in the interview he argues against making rash decisions in the current context.

“If the Union had been proclaimed two or three hours after the proclamation of independence, everything would have been a lot easier. This could have solved all problems back then, without ever needing Article 13 in the Constitution and all the other rotten pieces of legislation we can’t get rid of today. After all, we could have conceded the region of Transnistria to Ukraine, trading it for old Bessarabia and the territory of Bukovina beyond Chernivtsi”, Șoimaru said.

Ben Hodges’s statement also appears to have been misrepresented. The US official actually referred to settling the conflict in Transnistria by eliminating the separatist regime, not through a territory exchange.

With the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the Kremlin-linked media as well as pro-Russian politicians in Moldova have launched a number of accusations about the Republic of Moldova allegedly breaching its neutrality status and supporting Ukraine, which have never been substantiated and which were denied by Moldovan authorities.

With regard to recognizing the independence of Transnistria, this can be seen as a prologue to a possible annexation by Russia, which has already used this strategy in the case of Ukraine. Transnistria was in fact included in Russia’s original strategy when it planned the invasion of Ukraine. Back then, General Rustam Minnekayev, the deputy commander of the central military district, outlined Moscow’s plans to push the southern frontline as far as Transnistria. In addition, a photo was published depicting the directions of Russia’s attack, one of the arrows pointing to Transnistria. 

Tags: Republica Moldova , Ukraine , Russia , Transnistria , War in Ukraine
Ajută Veridica.ro
  • Publication / Media:
    newizv.ru
  • Date of publication:
    23/09/2022
  • Target audience:
    The inhabitants of the concerned Ukrainian territories and the region of Transnistria
  • Political affiliation:
    the Kremlin
  • Key narrative:
    Breaching its neutrality status, Moldova plans to trade territories with Ukraine, a country at war with Russia
Other articles
FAKE NEWS: Students in Romania are forced to watch films that promote suicide and homosexuality

FAKE NEWS: Students in Romania are forced to watch films that promote suicide and homosexuality

Romanian students are taught that accepting sexual advances is a moral obligation, and suicide a way to solve one’s issues, claims an association that campaigns for “defending, promoting and strengthening the rights of parents in Romania”. It all started when the students of the “Scoala Centrala” National College in Bucharest, as part of an extracurricular activity developed in partnership with the French Institute, watched a film that focuses on the friendship between two teenagers faced with age-specific challenges.

WAR PROPAGANDA: Russia must mobilize itself to defend NATO in the new “war for the defense of the fatherland”

WAR PROPAGANDA: Russia must mobilize itself to defend NATO in the new “war for the defense of the fatherland”

Russia is fighting a new “war for the defense of the fatherland”, but this time the enemy is not Nazi Germany but NATO, which wants to defeat Russia through Ukraine, according to a false narrative carried by the Russian state media. The truth is that NATO is not part of the conflict in Ukraine, and the confrontation with the West cannot be considered a war for the defense of the fatherland because Russia was not attacked by anyone, it was Russia who invaded an independent state.

WAR PROPAGANDA: Zelenskyy called on NATO member states to send troops to Ukraine

WAR PROPAGANDA: Zelenskyy called on NATO member states to send troops to Ukraine

Ukraine’s president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, called on NATO member states to send troops to the territory of Ukraine, according to a false narrative of the Russian government media. In fact, the statement of the Ukrainian leader was taken out of context. Zelenskyy in fact referred to the activation of Article 5 in the NATO treaty should the Alliance be attacked by Russia.

Veridica

26 Sep 2022

Updated at: 27 Sep 2022 12:54:51
Veridica

Follow us on Google News

3 minutes read
WAR PROPAGANDA: Czechs are providing Ukraine with weapons to bomb civilians
WAR PROPAGANDA: Czechs are providing Ukraine with weapons to bomb civilians

Czech volunteers have been collecting funds to purchase a missile system for Ukraine, which will use it to bomb the civilian population in Donbas, according to a false narrative disseminated by the Russian media. In fact, weapons purchased as part of the “Gift for Putin” crowdfunding campaign are designed to consolidate Ukraine’s defenses against the Russian aggression.

Marin Gherman
Marin Gherman
28 Mar 2023
FAKE NEWS: The USA is dictating Romania’s policy-making and waging a war against Russia
FAKE NEWS: The USA is dictating Romania’s policy-making and waging a war against Russia

The USA is dictating Romanian policy, it seeks to destroy the EU and is waging a war against Russia, according to a number of false narratives promoted by the former Foreign Minister of Romania, Adrian Severin, a former convicted criminal. The narratives have emerged from an open letter the politician turned criminal has conveyed to the new Ambassador of the USA in Romania, Kathleen Kavalec.

Cezar Manu
Cezar Manu
23 Mar 2023
WAR PROPAGANDA: Russia and China want peace in Ukraine, while the West is fueling the war WAR PROPAGANDA: Russia and China want peace in Ukraine, while the West is fueling the war
WAR PROPAGANDA: Russia and China want peace in Ukraine, while the West is fueling the war WAR PROPAGANDA: Russia and China want peace in Ukraine, while the West is fueling the war

Russia and China are looking for peace solutions in Ukraine, while the West wants a protracted war, according to Russian state media reporting on the talks in Moscow between Vladimir Putin and Xi Jinping. In reality, it is Russia that started the war and is continuing it by keeping troops in Ukraine and trying to seize even more of that country's territory.

Marin Gherman
Marin Gherman
22 Mar 2023
FAKE NEWS: Western diplomats are preparing Moldova's entry into the war
FAKE NEWS: Western diplomats are preparing Moldova's entry into the war

Two Western diplomats visited the Republic of Moldova last week to discuss its involvement in the war in Ukraine, writes the Donetk publication trmsk.ru. In reality, the talks did not concern Moldova's involvement in the war; on the contrary, the country is actually exposed to the risk of a Russian operation.

Veridica
Veridica
21 Mar 2023