Transnistria între Moldova, Ucraina și Rusia

Vladimir Zincenco looks at Russia’s ties with Moldova and Ukraine. He asks what role Transnistria plays in those ties. The book blends history with a study of power. It is for readers who want to grasp the region’s conflicts. The region is poor, but Moscow values it for strategic ends, not wealth. It also relies on free gas from Russia.

Transnistria claimed the right to rule itself in 1990. War followed. Forces backed by Russia fought the government in Chișinău. The book draws links with three other enclaves: Abkhazia, Nagorno-Karabakh and South Ossetia. It traces these enclaves to Lenin’s policies and Stalin’s rule. It then looks at how Russia later used them.

The book weighs fears that Russia might stage events in Transnistria. Russia could use these as grounds to attack Moldova. It might then target Romania too. The book asks why Moscow sees Romania as a foe. It points to Romania’s aid for Ukraine and its NATO ties. Romania belongs to NATO. Its missile defence site at Deveselu also plays a part.

Zincenco looks at Kremlin claims that Russian speakers face threats. He weighs claims of a planned attack on Transnistria. Those claims name Romania, NATO and Ukraine as the attackers. They say Romania would then seize Moldova as its own land. The book views these claims as propaganda, meant to sway people. It links them to Putin’s wish to restore the Soviet Union. That would put Ukraine and Moldova back under Moscow’s rule. Other states would come under its rule too. The book sees this as Putin’s bid for a place in history. He seeks rank with Peter the Great, Lenin and Stalin.