If Ukraine Falls On The Battlefield, The Republic Of Moldova Will Be Russia’s Next Target | Washington

Mihai Popșoi (37), the foreign minister of the Republic of Moldova, recently paid a visit to Washington to remind Biden administration officials and congressmen that the war in Ukraine is not just about Ukraine. Since the launch of the large-scale Russian invasion on February 24, 2022, the citizens of the Republic of Moldova have been experiencing unprecedented instability and anxiety. Putin threatens the security of the Republic of Moldova, seeks to strangle its economy and undermine its democracy, efforts aimed at replacing the pro-Western leadership in Chisinau with a new government, in the pay of the Kremlin.

While the Republic of Moldova, led by pro-European President Maia Sandu, struggles to combat Russian meddling and build ties with the West, it knows it can only survive as a democracy if Ukraine does not fall prey to Russia, the American journalist says, citing him the head of diplomacy from Chisinau. The only wall standing between the Republic of Moldova and a Russian attack is the Ukrainian army.

“The question is not whether Russia wants to invade, but only if it can,” says Mihai Popșoi. “God forbid, if the Russians felt encouraged, obviously the Republic of Moldova would be the next (target – no),” he adds.

Russia, currently engaged in a hybrid war against the Republic of Moldova

For now, Russia is not bombing the Republic of Moldova, but is waging a hybrid war against it, using all available means of leverage and interference to impose its will. Moscow tried to orchestrate a coup d’état, brought fake anti-government protesters to the streets, flooded the small state with disinformation and funneled illegal money to pro-Russian opposition parties.

Last weekend, Moscow hosted a conference for pro-Russian parties in the Republic of Moldova, during which the establishment of a new electoral bloc, “Victoria/Pobeda”, was announced. The bloc is led by Israeli-born Moldovan billionaire Ilan Şor, who was convicted in 2017 of “stealing the billion”. In 2022, the US government sanctioned Sor because of his collaboration with “corrupt oligarchs and entities from Moscow” with the objective of “causing political unrest in the Republic of Moldova” and undermining the Republic of Moldova’s efforts to join the European Union (EU ). Moreover, the new electoral block proposed to appoint a single candidate for the presidential elections and to boycott the referendum on the accession of the Republic of Moldova to the EU, both polls being scheduled for October 20 this year.

According to Popșoi, the accession steps of the Republic of Moldova to the EU irritate Putin the most. “The Russians are using our democratic process against us. They are trying to install a pro-Russian authoritarian regime that imitates the Russian model of government, in order to stab Ukraine in the back”, warns the head of Moldovan diplomacy.

The internationally recognized territory of the Republic of Moldova also includes two regions loyal to Moscow. Russia has about 1,500 so-called “peacekeeping” troops in the breakaway pro-Russian region of Transnistria that it could activate at any time to stir up more trouble. In Gagauzia, the candidate supported by Moscow, Evghenia Guțul, won the position of Basque mayor.

“Putin has imperialist ambitions”

Meanwhile, Moldova’s pro-Western government has taken steps to reduce dependence on Russian energy and counter Moscow’s interference. Thanks to American and European investments, the Republic of Moldova has reduced its dependence on Russian gas.

However, the United States and its partners must do much more. As a sign of solidarity, President Biden should invite Sandu to the White House. The Republic of Moldova needs more foreign investment in its infrastructure so that it can become a hub for the future reconstruction of Ukraine. It also needs help dealing with Russia’s technological advances, such as deepfakes and other AI-powered tools, that amplify the Kremlin’s disinformation campaigns. “The Republic of Moldova is a turning point for the Russian hybrid war”, emphasizes Popșoi.

Some Republicans argue that Ukraine has no chance of winning the war with Russia and that US aid is only prolonging the conflict. This opinion, supported especially by Senator JD Vance (Ohio), ignores the impact that the defeat of Ukraine would have on its neighbors, on the rest of the region and on the USA, notes the American journalist.

“Putin has imperialist ambitions; he does not deny this. He wants to rebuild the Soviet Union”, says Mihai Popșoi, warning that “all democracies will have problems” if Russia is not stopped in Ukraine.

Follow us on Google News