Ukraine demands replacement of Russian peacekeepers in Transnistria

Ukraine demands that the peacekeepers in Transnistria are replaced by an international multi-partite mission, says Gennady Altukhov, Charge d’ Affairs a.i. of Ukraine in Moldova.

Although Ukraine along with Russia is the guarantor and mediator in the peaceful settlement of the conflict in Transnistria, Altukhov said, that “unfortunately, the given format of the peacekeepers hardly contribute to the settlement of the Transnistrian crisis.”

“Ukraine supports the territorial integrity of Moldova within the borders of 1991. The existing mechanisms do not help achieve the given goal. In addition, both the Transnistrian region and Russia need to develop a more constructive approach to the conflict settlement. Replacement of the peacekeepers with a large number of international experts would become a more efficient step in the conflict settlement,” the Ukrainian diplomat says.

The peacekeeping mission was deployed in Transnistria based on the Agreement signed in 1992. The Joint Peacekeeping Forces comprise 402 Russian officers, 492 Transnistrian officers, and 355 Moldavian ones, as well as 10 military observers from Ukraine. The peacekeepers are on duty at 15 static security posts and checkpoints located in the key areas of the 12km-24km-wide security zone that stretches 225km along the Dniester.