Moldova doing everything to ensure Transnistria poses no threat: President

By Meiramgul Kussainova

KYIV, Ukraine (AA) - Moldova’s president said Monday they are doing everything to ensure that the breakaway region of Transnistria poses no threat to her country and Ukraine.

Speaking at a joint news conference with her Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelenskyy in the Ukrainian capital Kyiv, Maia Sandu said there is currently no threat from the region.

"We are closely following all developments in Transnistria and we are seeing no threats looming. We are doing everything we can to prevent this separatist region from posing a threat to Ukraine and Moldova," she noted.

Sandu also said that reports of a "general mobilization" in Transnistria have not been confirmed yet.

Kyiv and Chisinau should maintain constant dialogue on security issues, she added.

For his part, Zelenskyy underlined that any action against Ukraine from Transnistria will receive an appropriate response but destabilization in this region should be avoided.

"If it happens, I think it's a global mistake. We receive certain signals. They are unpleasant. But these people in Transnistria should know…we will definitely respond with a strike," he added.

Moldova, a former Soviet republic, sits on Ukraine’s southwest border and is located around 50 kilometers (31 miles) from the Ukrainian port city of Odesa.

The nation has a relatively small military and neutrality was enshrined in its post-Soviet constitution.

The breakaway Transnistria region in Moldova is currently controlled by pro-Russian separatists.