Kyiv: Ukraine ready to provide corridor for withdrawal of Russian troops from Transnistria
Ukraine is ready to provide Russian troops with a corridor for withdrawing from Transnistria, the special representative for the Transdniestrian settlement, Viktor Kryzhanovskiy stated. The diplomat said that Kyiv will provide Russian troops with a corridor immediately, as soon as the Russians are ready to begin the withdrawal process.
"Our position is unchanged. We will provide the territory. We will ensure the unhindered and safe withdrawal of Russian troops and ammunition from the territory of Transnistria as soon as Russia begins to do so or when it at least expresses readiness," he said.
At the same time, Kryzhanovskiy said that at the moment, Russia is not demonstrating readiness to withdraw its troops. "Literally yesterday, Russian Deputy Prime Minister Rogozin wrote that they would not do this because this could destabilize the situation. Politicians in the Russian State Duma say that the situation in Ukraine is unstable and how can ammunition be transported through such a territory?" the special representative of Ukraine said.
According to the ambassador of Moldova to Ukraine, Ruslan Bolbochan, Chisinau insists on the prompt withdrawal of Russian troops. "We are concerned about the military exercises held on the territory of Transnistria. We are talking about this at various international platforms. According to some reports, last year there were about 300 such exercises. This worries us," the Moldovan diplomat said.
The last time, the issue of the withdrawal of Russian troops from Transnistria was raised on the initiative of the Prime Minister of Moldova. President Igor Dodon did not approve of the move. The issue was scheduled for discussion at the United Nations In September 2017 but was forestalled. As early as the year before, Defense Minister Stepan Poltorak already spoke of the readiness to provide a corridor for the withdrawal of the occupation forces.