SIRIUS /Federal territory/ March 6. /TASS/. Moscow is ready to help Transnistria if necessary, but believes that all problems should be settled by means of a dialogue, Russian Presidential Spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Wednesday.
"People in Transnistria live under complicated conditions," Peskov said. "They certainly need assistance in many ways."
"Russia is open to provide this assistance, but we prefer settling all issues without any exceptions by means of a dialogue, a political dialogue," the spokesman added.
Earlier in the year, a convention of lawmakers from all levels of government, which was held in Tiraspol on the initiative of Vadim Krasnoselsky, the president of the breakaway Transnistria region, asked Russia for help against pressure from Moldova, and also appealed to the international community to help with the resumption of comprehensive talks with Chisinau.
Relations between Chisinau and Tiraspol began to steadily deteriorate in 2020 after the election of Maia Sandu as Moldovan president and her harsh statements against Tiraspol. The situation was exacerbated at the start of this year after Moldova decided to levy duties on goods heading to Transnistria.
After Ukraine closed the Transnistrian section of its border with Moldova in 2022, goods can only enter Transnistria through Chisinau-controlled territory. Tiraspol accused Chisinau of using Transnistria's vulnerable position.