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Schallenberg condemns “Moscow’s script”

Foreign Minister Alexander Schallenberg accuses Putin of playing a "dangerous game".

(Bild: APA/BMEIA/MICHAEL GRUBER)

Foreign Minister Alexander Schallenberg (ÖVP) has accused Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin of "playing with fire in a very dangerous way" with regard to the Republic of Moldova. Pro-Russian separatists have asked for "protection" in the breakaway region of Transnistria. A call for help that brings back dark memories.

The alleged request for protection sounds "a bit like something from a Kremlin script", said Schallenberg in Beirut on Thursday. "He (Putin) should just be warned that the Moscow script, which now seems to be unfolding again, will not work."

Following similar maneuvers, Russia had already annexed the Ukrainian peninsula of Crimea in 2014, as well as four other Ukrainian regions eight years later.

Opening a new front?
Transnistria seceded from the Republic of Moldova back in 1992. Since the beginning of the war in Ukraine, there has been speculation that Putin could play the Transnistria card in order to exert pressure on neighboring Ukraine.

Putin "has always been good for surprises, unfortunately God for bad surprises in recent years," Schallenberg told journalists traveling with him on the sidelines of his trip to the Middle East. "It could also be that they simply want to force Ukraine to move troop contingents back to the south of the country."

The gas factor
Schallenberg went on to say that such a development was "basically to be expected". In this regard, he referred to a conversation he had with his Moldovan counterpart Mihai Popsoi at the Munich Security Conference in mid-February. "We have not ruled out the possibility of such a development, above all due to the energy situation," said the Foreign Minister with regard to Ukraine's announcement that it was cutting the gas transit contract to Moldova.

The use of cheap Russian gas for electricity production, among other things, is one of the main sources of income for the separatist region.

EU referendum on the horizon
Schallenberg cited the EU referendum planned for the fall in the Republic of Moldova as another possible reason for the current escalation. Accordingly, the developments show "that in reality Moscow's grip is becoming weaker and weaker". "Moldova has made a very clear decision, is pursuing a very consistent European course, is fully supported by us and we are all in complete solidarity with Moldova's territorial integrity and sovereignty".

When asked how Moldova should react to a possible annexation of Transnistria by Russia, Schallenberg said: "Keeping a cool head is the best thing you can do at the moment." The Moldovan government's initial reactions were "very reasonable", "which was very reassuring".