OSCE calls on Russia to immediately withdraw its troops from Transnistria

At the meeting of the OSCE Council of Foreign Ministers in Vienna, Elina Valtonen called on Russia to "immediately and unconditionally" withdraw all military formations and weapons from Transnistria.

She reminded that, according to the decisions of the 1999 Istanbul Summit, the Russian Federation committed to leave the region — and called on Moscow to fulfill its commitments without delay.

In addition to the issue of troop withdrawal, Valtonen drew attention to the environmental and security threat posed by the ammunition depot in the village of Kovbasna. The OSCE is ready to send an expert mission for inspection and disposal of the ammunition.

Moldovan representatives and international partners insist that only an exclusively diplomatic dialogue mediated by the OSCE should determine the future settlement — without the military presence of Russia.

Valtonen's statement became a key signal that the situation around Transnistria is once again at the center of international attention. Along with this step, the intensification of diplomatic pressure on Moscow could be a precursor to a new wave of sanctions or international initiatives to restore peace and security in the region.