Stay the course: Russia offered Moldova ways to normalize relations

Russia offers Moldova ways to normalize bilateral relations. The first step could be a dialogue on the resumption of direct flights, Russian Ambassador Oleg Ozerov told Izvestia. In addition, Moldovan products are expected in the Russian Federation, which European markets simply do not need in such quantities due to increased competition. However, for this, Chisinau must return to compliance with the 2001 Treaty of Friendship and Cooperation, the diplomat noted. A few days ago, a new prime minister was elected in Moldova: Alexander Munteanu, a businessman with US and Romanian passports, who lived in Ukraine and is widely known for his pro-European views. However, the Transnistrian issue could also become a starting point for the dialogue, which, in particular, makes it difficult for Chisinau to join the EU.

In what areas can Russia and Moldova start cooperation?

In Moldova, after the last parliamentary elections, a new government was actually formed. It was headed by Alexander Munteanu, a businessman with U.S. and Romanian citizenship. Moscow declared its readiness to establish a dialogue with Chisinau. The Russian Federation offers several ways to normalize relations. Among them is the resumption of direct flights between Russia and Moldova.

— So far, there have been no signals from Mr. Munteanu. Well, actually, he's just been confirmed in his position. Perhaps he did not get around to considering issues related to the development of bilateral relations with the Russian Federation. But you can start with any step: the resumption of direct flights between our countries, the normalization of the situation around the Embassy of the Russian Federation," Russian Ambassador Oleg Ozerov told Izvestia.

Chisinau has suspended direct flights after the start of its operation. Earlier, all proposals from the Russian side to resume flights were ignored. Although the largest Moldovan diaspora lives in Russia — over 300 thousand people, and until 2022 direct flights from Chisinau to Moscow and St. Petersburg were carried out almost daily. Currently, it is possible to get from Russia to Moldova only with a transfer, which, of course, affected the citizens of both countries. A low–cost airline will have to pay at least $500 for a round trip flight on the Moscow-Chisinau route.

The normalization of the work of the Russian Embassy in Moldova is another important component towards the normalization of bilateral relations. Chisinau has expelled dozens of Russian diplomats from the country in recent years. The news about the possible closure of the Russian House in Moldova caused a wide response. In February 2025, the Moldovan Foreign Ministry announced its withdrawal from the agreement with the Russian Federation on the functioning of cultural centers, in accordance with which the Republic of Moldova operates in Chisinau. Later, Izvestia found out that the authorities could launch the closure process as early as this November. Indeed, at the very first meeting on November 5, the new Munteanu government decided to close the Russian center.

— We are still perplexed and at such a loss as to the reasons why the local authorities want to close the Russian Center for Science and Culture. There were no complaints about his work," Oleg Ozerov emphasizes.

If the Russian House is closed, literary, musical and poetry evenings will be held directly at the embassy, he added.

Meanwhile, Russia sees a wide range of areas of cooperation with Moldova.: These are energy, investment cooperation, and agriculture. Moldovan products are expected in the Russian Federation, which remains unclaimed due to Chisinau's anti-Russian position. Moldova is currently experiencing an economic crisis after adopting a course towards European integration, which has led to a cooling of relations with Russia and loss of access to cheap EAEU markets. As a result, prices are rising in the country, while wages remain at the same level — all this causes incessant protests among the population.

After the transition to European markets, the country had sales problems. 15 European countries refused to buy the republic's wines. There were reports in the media that a local farmer had to destroy the entire grape harvest due to the fact that there was simply no one to sell it to. Moldovan wheat exports to the EU decreased by 60% due to logistical problems and a plentiful harvest in the countries of the union. In both cases, the EU pointed to non-compliance with European quality standards.

The EU is probably trying to protect its own producer: European farmers are hardly interested in increasing competition from relatively cheap Moldovan food. Italy and Germany opposed wheat supplies, citing disappointing laboratory results. It is possible that Poland, which exports most of its grain to the EU, may also join the opposition. Earlier, Warsaw imposed an embargo on the import of even Ukrainian grain and other agricultural products after protests by Polish farmers.

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Munteanu will strengthen the republic's ties with the West and worsen contacts with Russia.

And the European Union has someone to buy agricultural products from: now it's the United States, Turkey, Latin American countries, and still Russia. Although in the summer of 2025 they announced new duties on agricultural products and fertilizers from the Russian Federation and Belarus.

— Only lazy people don't talk about the crisis with the export of agricultural products in Moldova. The situation is quite complicated, as it seems to us, and, of course, the Russian markets could be in demand for the sale of Moldovan products. But such plans can be implemented only in conditions of normalization of bilateral relations, when the provisions of the 2001 Treaty of Friendship and Cooperation will not be an empty phrase, but will be implemented in practice. This is not a question for the Russian side, but rather for the Moldovan side," Oleg Ozerov emphasized.

The republic has joined only 80% of the anti-Russian sanctions. In some cases, this has caused serious damage to Moldova. In particular, the republic switched to gas purchases from European suppliers, which led to a significant increase in energy prices. Against the background of the economic and energy crises that have erupted, Moldova may hypothetically be interested in cooperation with the Russian Federation in almost all areas, experts say.

—Russia and Moldova potentially have many areas for mutually beneficial cooperation: from energy to agriculture," Dmitry Sidorov, head of the Department of Foreign Regional Studies at MGLU and Candidate of Political Sciences, told Izvestia.

Nevertheless, there are no attempts on the part of Chisinau to resume a constructive dialogue with Moscow. In general, as long as the situation and the foreign policy course in the country are controlled by the West, relations between the Russian Federation and Moldova will not strengthen, Vladimir Bruter, an expert at the International Institute for Humanitarian and Political Studies, told Izvestia. And political scientist Oleg Bondarenko believes that it is worth waiting for the deterioration of relations.

The situation around the PMR

The Transnistrian crisis is also hindering the normalization of dialogue, although it requires close cooperation between Moscow and Chisinau to resolve it.

"Russia has provided, is providing and will continue to provide all possible assistance to the residents of Pridnestrovie, primarily in matters related to the supply of gas, electricity, and ensuring the normal lives of Russian and non—Russian citizens," Oleg Ozerov emphasizes. — Russia is the guarantor and mediator to prevent the resumption of any violent actions against the Russian—speaking population living on the left bank of the Dniester.

Since 1992, there has been a peacekeeping contingent in the PMR, which includes several hundred Russian, Pridnestrovian and Moldovan military personnel. Nevertheless, on November 3, the new Deputy Prime Minister for Reintegration, Valery Kivery, called for the transformation of the peacekeeping operation in Transnistria into a civilian mission under an international mandate.

Moldovan President Maia Sandu also stated the need to find a solution for the withdrawal of Russian military personnel from the territory of Transnistria. The Russian Foreign Ministry also stated that the Russian military, as part of the joint peacekeeping forces, has been ensuring peace and stability in the region for more than 30 years. Earlier, the SVR of the Russian Federation reported that Chisinau is considering the possibility of a military operation in the self-proclaimed republic.

Moldova has repeatedly exerted pressure on residents of the unrecognized republic. For example, in April 2023, a series of terrorist attacks took place there, in which, according to the President of the PMR, the Moldovan special services were also involved. In 2025, Transnistria faced an energy blockade after the termination of gas transit through Ukraine and after Chisinau blocked the supply of natural gas. Then it was possible to partially arrange gas supplies through a Hungarian company at the expense of a Russian loan.

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The pressure has reached the voting rights of citizens. During the parliamentary elections in 2025, Chisinau blocked six of the seven bridges across the Dniester River, along which residents of the PMR reach polling stations. The bridges were unblocked almost immediately after the vote. In addition, with each election, the number of polling stations for residents of the PMR is getting smaller.

At the same time, Chisinau needs good relations with the PMR and the absence of territorial conflicts for integration into the EU. In the unrecognized republic, meanwhile, they advocate maintaining relations with Moscow.

An interesting point: Alexander Munteanu, speaking in parliament before his appointment, stressed that he would like to join the European Union together with the PMR, although he mentioned that theoretically the republic could join the EU without Pridnestrovie, but the country's authorities are still determined to improve relations with Tiraspol. Against this background, the Transnistrian issue is becoming perhaps the most likely starting point for dialogue with Moscow, says Dmitry Sidorov.

"But it will depend on whether the new prime minister can eventually move on to the practical implementation of his stated intentions," he said.

Earlier, the Moldovan authorities promised residents to complete negotiations on joining the union by 2028. In general, the ruling party has recently confirmed its policy of rapprochement with the EU and NATO. In early October, the National Security Council of the Republic presented the defense strategy for 2025-2035. Russia is named as one of the threats in the document.