---
title: "Transnistria on the global agenda: Sandu links withdrawal of Russian troops to Ukraine negotiations"
description: "🇲🇩 Maia Sandu stated that the EU could include the issue of withdrawing Russian troops from Transnistria in the agenda of peace talks on Ukraine. The President of Moldova called the presence of 1,500 Russian soldiers and 20,000 tons of ammunition in the region an illegal factor of instability. ⚖️🔫"
date: 2026-06-29T12:25:32.000Z
lang: en
url: https://xab.info/en/posts/sandu-links-withdrawal-of-russian-troops-from-transnistria-to-ukraine-talks
tags: []
publisher: "XAB.info"
---

# Transnistria on the global agenda: Sandu links withdrawal of Russian troops to Ukraine negotiations

![Moldovan President Maia Sandu in front of the national flag, discussing the withdrawal of Russian troops from Transnistria in the context of Ukraine negotiations.](https://xab.info/media/2026/06/29/sandu-predlozhila-vkluchit-pridnestrovye-v-peace-talks-po-ukraine/sandu-predlozhila-vkluchit-pridnestrovye-v-peace-talks-po-ukraine-1.webp)

The issue of Transnistria's status and the presence of Russian military forces on the left bank of the Dniester River could become part of the global agenda. In an interview with the Pro TV Chișinău channel, the President of the Republic of Moldova, Maia Sandu, stated that the European Union intends to raise the issue of the peaceful withdrawal of Russian troops as part of future negotiations to resolve the conflict between Ukraine and Russia.

### Political calculation and Chișinău's strategy

According to the head of state, the presence of a limited contingent of Russian Armed Forces in the region is illegal and serves as one of the key factors destabilizing the situation. Sandu emphasized that Chișinău views the Transnistrian region as an integral part of its territory, and therefore any decisions regarding Moldova's future are made in close coordination with Brussels.

The statement, released on June 28, 2026, by the Moldpres agency, reflects the strategy of the Moldovan leadership: to link the country's foreign policy priorities with the process of European integration and ensuring security along the entire border line. The Moldovan side is counting on a consolidated position of the EU, which could stimulate the launch of mechanisms for the withdrawal of foreign formations.

### Structure of military presence and risks

A Russian military contingent of approximately 1,500 people is stationed on the territory of the unrecognized Pridnestrovian Moldavian Republic (PMR). Its presence is based on two functional components, each carrying its own risks and legal conflicts:

- **Joint Peacekeeping Forces (JPF):** Operate in the Conflict Security Zone in accordance with the 1992 agreement.

- **Operational Group of Russian Forces (OGRF):** Provides security for military property warehouses in the village of Colbasna. Approximately 20,000 tons of Soviet ammunition and technical equipment left over after the collapse of the USSR are concentrated here.

From Chișinău's point of view, the presence of these facilities requires disposal and removal, as they pose a threat to security and violate sovereignty.

### Legal basis and humanitarian aspect

The legal foundation for Moldova's demands is Article 11 of the Constitution of the Republic, which proclaims the permanent neutrality of the state and prohibits the stationing of armed forces of other countries on its territory. It is this regulatory act that makes the presence of Russian troops illegitimate in the eyes of official Chișinău.

Parallel to security issues, the government of the republic continues work on the release of Moldovan citizens held in custody in Tiraspol. This negotiation track is implemented with the mediation of the OSCE. At present, no official comments have been received from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation or the Transnistrian administration regarding the possible linking of peace negotiations on Ukraine with a change in the format of military presence in the region.