MOSCOW (Sputnik) – Moscow is unable to withdraw its operative military group from Transnistria because of the situation in Ukraine, Russian Foreign Ministry Special Envoy Sergei Gubarev said Thursday.
"As soon as the possibility arises to withdraw arms stored at the depot in Kolbasna [Transnistria] to scrap them in Russia, then the need for presence and the continuation of activity by the group of Russian troops will end, and these people will finally be able to return home," Gubarev said during a live linkup conference.
"I’m not the kind of person who would take on the responsibility right now to send several convoys of deadly cargo through Ukraine when there are such dramatic events going on there," Gubarev added.
In 1992, after the War of Transnistria, the Moldovan authorities virtually lost control over the region.
While seeking international recognition, Transnistria is designated by Moldova as autonomy within a unitary state. The Joint Peacekeeping Forces' mission maintains stability in the region.
