Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

'Threatening rhetoric': Lavrov calls tiny Moldova 'the next Ukraine'
Washington Examiner ^ | February 02, 2023 | Joel Gehrke

Posted on 02/02/2023 4:20:54 PM PST by familyop

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov referred to Moldova as “the next Ukraine" in a criticism of the Black Sea state that stokes Moldovan anxiety about the prospect of an attack from Russia.

"We categorically reject the statement by the head of Russian diplomacy, which does not correspond to reality, and is part of the already well-known threatening rhetoric of Russian diplomacy,” the Moldovan Foreign Ministry said Thursday.

Lavrov drew the analogy as Moscow renews its attempt to characterize its invasion of Ukraine as a defensive struggle against fascist ideology. Russia has maintained a military presence in Moldova over the objections of the Moldovan government, a dispute that could provide kindling for another crisis, spurring Moldova to seek deeper ties with U.S. and European governments.

"The West has already set its sights on the Republic of Moldova,” Lavrov told state media, saying that Moldova has “a president who wants to join NATO, has Romanian citizenship, is ready to unite with Romania and, in general, she is ready for almost anything.”

The territory of modern Moldova was annexed by the Soviet Union in 1940, but Moldova and Romania, a member of NATO, have long-standing social and cultural ties stemming in part from their common background as part of the former Kingdom of Romania. Moldova has a neutrality clause in its constitution, but Moldovan President Maia Sandu has accused Russia of trying to use “corrupt groups and some political groups to destabilize” her country.

“There is a serious discussion in the society, about our capacity to defend ourselves — whether we can do it ourselves, or whether we should be part of a larger alliance,” Sandu told Politico’s EU Confidential podcast. “It’s not Moldova which started a war against its neighbors ... Now that we see the Russian aggression against Ukraine, we understand how serious this is, and we understand that we need to make the defense sector a priority.”

Moldovan intelligence officials have suggested that the Kremlin might try to seize the entire Ukrainian coastline on the Black Sea in order to create a corridor that links mainland Russia with the disputed territories of Moldova.

“The question is not whether the Russian Federation will launch a new offensive in the direction of Moldovan territory, but when it will happen: either at the beginning of the year, in January, February, or later, in March, (or) April,” Moldovan spy chief Alexandru Musteata said in December. “What will follow — their intentions towards Chisinau — we can discuss. But this is a real and very high risk.”

Lavrov’s comments come a week after Putin’s allies in the Russian parliament issued their own warnings.

"If Moldova wants to destroy its own state, this is the best way,” Russian lawmaker Leonid Kalashnikov said, referring to the idea of Moldova’s membership in NATO. “If they think that, like Finland or Sweden, secretly, quickly, taking advantage of the situation, they can join NATO and that nothing will happen to them for this in their own country, they should remember something else. The fact that Finland has two official languages and respects its people.”

Moldova has applied to join the European Union, which is an economic and political bloc, not the military alliance that is NATO.

“Joining the EU is our only option to survive as a democracy, so it's a must for us,” Sandu said.

“We do believe in democracy. We want to stay part of the free world.”

Her government struck a similar note in its response to Lavrov. "We would like to remind the Russian side that the path Moldova is following is the path of accession to the EU,” the Moldovan Foreign Ministry said. “Moldova has clearly chosen its future, and this future is part of the free world.”


TOPICS: Foreign Affairs; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: joelgehrke; moldova; putinbots; transnistria
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-4041-6061-74 next last

1 posted on 02/02/2023 4:20:54 PM PST by familyop
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: familyop

Moldova Sucks


2 posted on 02/02/2023 4:23:42 PM PST by butlerweave
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: familyop

Why would a sane Russia NOT do this?

The US and NATO intend to destroy them as a country.

https://freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/4128071/posts


3 posted on 02/02/2023 4:24:47 PM PST by Mariner (War Criminal #18)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: butlerweave

“Moldova Sucks.”

It wants to be free. Do you think that sucks?


4 posted on 02/02/2023 4:29:58 PM PST by ought-six (Multiculturalism is national suicide, and political correctness is the cyanide capsule. )
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: Mariner

“The US and NATO intend to destroy them as a country.”

Oh, quit with the drama. If the US and NATO wanted to destroy Russia they would have done it in 1992, which was the most opportune time to do it. So, why didn’t the US and NATO attack Russia in 1992?


5 posted on 02/02/2023 4:32:07 PM PST by ought-six (Multiculturalism is national suicide, and political correctness is the cyanide capsule. )
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: familyop

I am really going to enjoy living in West Alaska.


6 posted on 02/02/2023 4:34:54 PM PST by ifinnegan (Democrats kill babies and harvest their organs to sell)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: butlerweave
Russian army officer admits: 'Our troops tortured Ukrainians'

7 posted on 02/02/2023 4:36:43 PM PST by familyop ("For they that sleep with dogs, shall rise with fleas" (John Webster, "The White Devil" 1612).)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: familyop

Mold-ova? Really? That’s whose invited into NATO now?

I understand their constitution prohibits military alliances and the current [female] prez wants to chuck that and join NATO. I saw a travel video [the bald traveler or something]. English guy, russian speaking. Said it was “the worst” country in all of Europe. From what was shown [decrepit infrastructure, growling populace] his description looked spot on.


8 posted on 02/02/2023 4:40:42 PM PST by TonyinLA ( I don't have sufficient information to make an informed opinion said no lefty ever.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: ifinnegan
"I am really going to enjoy living in West Alaska."

The locals there would like that very much.

RUSSIAN FAR EAST Autumn AND FOREST Where you can hide from mobilization ?!/ Travel to Russia
https://youtu.be/RtRxcX9vHKk

9 posted on 02/02/2023 4:41:41 PM PST by familyop ("For they that sleep with dogs, shall rise with fleas" (John Webster, "The White Devil" 1612).)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 6 | View Replies]

To: ought-six

It’s a line from the end of the movie Red, that’s all.


10 posted on 02/02/2023 4:44:15 PM PST by HartleyMBaldwin
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

To: ought-six

check the link


11 posted on 02/02/2023 4:44:20 PM PST by Mariner (War Criminal #18)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 5 | View Replies]

To: TonyinLA

Well there you go. Crumbling infrastructure and grumpy people. Let the massacre and annexation begin.


12 posted on 02/02/2023 4:46:20 PM PST by WalkerinSC
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 8 | View Replies]

To: butlerweave

If I have my history right, Moldova was a part of Romania that the USSR took after World War II. When USSR broke up, Moldova became one of the new independent nations. But a part of it, Transdniestria, populated by many Russians broke away from Moldova. So far only one nation, Russia, recognizes Transdniestrian ‘independence’.

Moldova might want to rejoin Romania, but Russia says this would be a terrible provocation and might lead to Russian invasion since Romania is a part of NATO

Does any of this sound familiar?


13 posted on 02/02/2023 4:54:46 PM PST by hanamizu
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: ought-six

move Red


14 posted on 02/02/2023 4:55:17 PM PST by butlerweave
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

To: familyop

.


15 posted on 02/02/2023 4:57:16 PM PST by sauropod (“If they don’t believe our lies, well, that’s just conspiracy theorist stuff, there.”)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

Can the democrats use it as a money laundromat black hole?


16 posted on 02/02/2023 4:57:39 PM PST by dsrtsage ( Complexity is just simple lacking imagination)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 6 | View Replies]

To: Mariner
What kind of clown fabulist is this "Joek Jerkey" guy from the Washington AnalExam that he didn't mention Transnistria in his piece of clownfiction?

Notice that the angry neoconneds on this thread are so sparked up about their precious NATO provocations that they failed to see that GIANT omission.

17 posted on 02/02/2023 4:58:39 PM PST by kiryandil (China Joe and Paycheck Hunter - the Chink in America's defenses)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: TonyinLA
"Mold-ova? Really? That’s whose invited into NATO now?"

No.

18 posted on 02/02/2023 4:59:46 PM PST by familyop ("For they that sleep with dogs, shall rise with fleas" (John Webster, "The White Devil" 1612).)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 8 | View Replies]

To: butlerweave; HartleyMBaldwin

Purse dogs don’t watch movies, and they have no sense of humor.


19 posted on 02/02/2023 5:02:26 PM PST by kiryandil (China Joe and Paycheck Hunter - the Chink in America's defenses)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 14 | View Replies]

A ridiculous country. Should have gone back to Romania (less Trans-Dniester lands).


20 posted on 02/02/2023 5:03:21 PM PST by rxh4n1
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-4041-6061-74 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson