Kuleba Dismisses Threat from Transnistria and Clarifies Russia’s Passport Drive.

The Situation in Transnistria

According to Espreso.tv: In a recent interview, former Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba addressed the situation in Transnistria, assessing the military threat from the region as negligible. He also commented on the accelerated issuance of Russian passports to Transnistrian residents, emphasizing that Tiraspol poses no danger to Ukraine. Kuleba refuted rumors of a potential Ukrainian operation in the region without Moldova’s consent. This region, a breakaway territory internationally recognized as part of Moldova, has long been a point of tension in Eastern Europe.

On May 15, 2023, Vladimir Putin signed a decree simplifying passport procedures for Transnistrian residents. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy weighed in on the decree, stating that Russia is seeking new soldiers:

'This step is specific and means not only that Russia is searching for new soldiers in this way, because citizenship implies military duty.' – Volodymyr Zelenskyy

Ukraine’s Diplomatic Path

Kuleba underscored that if Moldovans were not opposed and expressed a desire for Ukraine’s help with the Transnistrian situation, then 'the Ukrainian flag would be flying very quickly' in Tiraspol. He also noted that 'the Kremlin needs some kind of decisions; it needs to create the appearance of having a secret, brilliant plan.' In his view, the situation in the region poses no threat to Ukraine, and no military actions from Ukraine are planned without coordination with Moldova.

The situation in Transnistria remains under control, as Ukrainian officials, including Kuleba, stress the absence of threats from this region. The distribution of Russian passports to local residents, as Zelenskyy pointed out, serves as a tool to bolster Russia’s military presence, but Ukraine considers it crucial to maintain a diplomatic approach on this issue. Cooperation with Moldova is key to regional security, as any actions from the Ukrainian side require approval from the Moldovan government.