MOSCOW, April 17. /ITAR-TASS/. Putin proposes intensifying dialogue on future of Transdniestria, demands Moldova, Ukraine lift its blockade immediately.
“This is one of the most complicated problems we inherited after the collapse of the USSR. It has a population of over half a million, people are really very pro-Russian. A large number of Russian nationals,” Putin said during a live Q&A session on Thursday.
“People have their own idea on how to build their future, their destiny. It’s nothing else but a manifestation of democracy if we allow them to do as they want to,” he said.
“Dialogue should certainly be led with Moldova and Ukraine, talks should be intensified in line with the ‘5 + 2’ formula (Moldova, Transdniestria as parties of the conflict, Russia, Ukraine and the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe as intermediaries and the European Union and the United States as observers),” Putin said.
“The blockade, the negative consequences of which are currently felt by people living in Transdniestria, should be lifted both on the part of Moldova and Ukraine,” he said.
“Nationalistic armed formations have already been deployed on the border with Transdniestria by Ukraine. The situation should certainly be stopped as soon as possible,” the Russian president said.