Why would Ukraine be persuaded by Russian assurances to respect its neutrality if states like Finland and Sweden, who are not under attack, no longer feel that neutrality guarantees their security?
Moldova
Ukraine invasion: ‘stage two’ of Russia’s war is ringing alarm bells in nearby Moldova
Related Notes The second stage of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine is underway. The scope of the war now appears to be...
The prospects for a settlement on Transnistria under a Sandu presidency
Within days of Maia Sandu’s victory, the protracted conflict over Transnistria has moved to the centre stage again.
A New Dynamic for Post-Soviet Conflict Settlement?
The protracted conflicts across the post-Soviet space have returned to the center of regional and international politics over the past several months.
What next for Moldova?
Will Maia Sandu’s victory matter for one of Europe’s poorest country, which has been torn between Russia and the West for the better part of the past three decades?
Remember the Cold War? Putin has brought it back.
Many remember Russia’s Cold War strategy of invading, destabilizing and intervening in other countries’ governance. Putin has apparently once again made this his policy.
Moldova’s future in the balance
Even in the best-possible scenario, Moldova has a long way to go before it sheds its reputation as one of the most corrupt and poorest countries in Europe. It will be up to the country’s political elites, as well as their respective external patrons, to decide whether these elections are the first step in this direction.
Post-Soviet Confidence Games
Confidence-building measures can help to stabilize a conflict, but the stability they generate is often fragile and temporary. In an environment like that in Ukraine, there is a risk that such measures will sustain, not end, the conflict.
Are Moldova and Transnistria next on Moscow’s to-do-list?
The West should send a much clearer message to Moscow and back it up with credible policy. The question, however, is whether policy makers from Berlin to Brussels, London and Washington think that Moldova is worth such a tougher line.
