Transnistria is “between two fires,” they say in Tiraspol
Chisinau - Tiraspol, May 20 (Navigator, Petr Alekseev) - Ukraine is the only transport corridor through which Pridnestrovie carries out trade relations with Russia and other countries, and today the republic is “between two fires.”
This was stated by the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Transnistria Nina Shtanski in an interview with the European TV channel Euronews, answering questions about the relations of the unrecognized PMR with Moldova and Ukraine.
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Speaking about the ongoing blockade measures on the part of the Ukrainian authorities regarding the freedom of movement of Pridnestrovians, the minister said that Tiraspol “does not tire of appealing” to the Ukrainian side so that the blockade is lifted.
“Not only the well-being of enterprises located in Pridnestrovie and business in general depends on this, but also the well-being of Ukrainians, of whom almost a third are here,” said Shtanski, quoted by the press service of the PMR Foreign Ministry.
Answering a question about the upcoming signing of an association agreement between the Republic of Moldova and the EU, the diplomat emphasized that this step, in conditions of ignoring the opinion and position of Pridnestrovie, is untimely and irresponsible.
“This agreement is not economic, but political. If it were economic, it would take into account the interests of Transnistria. You will not find a single point in the agreement that would concern the interests of our republic,” the diplomat said, noting that the decline in industrial production in Transnistria could reach 60%.
Earlier, Tiraspol announced economic difficulties faced by enterprises due to the situation in Ukraine. The point is that many counterparties, including those in the Russian Federation, require Pridnestrovian companies to deliver cargo bypassing Ukraine due to the fact that transit through its territory is unsafe. In addition, a collapse in demand for Pridnestrovian products in Ukraine itself was noted due to a decrease in the solvency of Ukrainian counterparties.
Transnistria is " caught between two fires," Tiraspol says.