Zelensky does not believe that Transnistria will ask to join Russia

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky expressed skepticism about the possibility that the authorities of Transnistria will ask for the territory’s inclusion in the Russian Federation at the congress of “deputies of all levels” on 28 February.

“I am not sure that next week the Transnistrians, or whoever will gather there, will resort to this step (requesting the annexation of the Transnistrian region to Russia – n.r.). I’m not sure about that from the information I have,” said Volodymyr Zelensky on Sunday, at a press conference within the forum “Ukraine. The year 2024,” according to News Maker.

Last week, Transnistrian opponent Ghenadie Ciorba, said at the congress of the so-called deputies of all levels of Transnistria, which will take place on February 28, a request to Moscow regarding the accession of the separatist region to the Russian Federation would be adopted.

Asked if Ukraine would provide military assistance in the event that the Transnistrian region asks to join Russia, Volodymyr Zelenskiy said he had not received such a request. “First of all, we have a war going on. Second, we are at war with the Russian Federation. Thirdly, Moldova did not approach us with such requests”, the Ukrainian President replied.

The Main Directorate of Intelligence (GUR) of Ukraine also stated that the information according to which the Transnistrian region would ask to be included in Russia “does not correspond to reality”. “Spreading information about such intentions has all the characteristics of a deliberate disinformation campaign aimed at destabilizing the situation in the region,” GUR said. 

The de facto leader of the Transnistrian region, Vadim Krasnoselski, has convened, for February 28, the congress of “deputies of all levels” to discuss the consequences of the introduction of customs duties for companies in the Transnistrian region, which would “worse” the socio-economic situation -economics of the inhabitants on the left side of the Dniester River.