The Russian Foreign Ministry, through its spokeswoman Maria Zakharova, made sharp criticisms of Moldova, accusing the country's authorities of "pulling" the republic to NATO and turn it into a logistics base for supplying the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU). The statement was made to the Russian TASS agency, quoted by News.bg.
Railway infrastructure and solidarity corridors
Zakharova stressed that the efforts of the European Union (EU) to modernize the Moldovan railway infrastructure, within the framework of the "corridors of solidarity" project, have a hidden goal – strengthening communication links with Ukraine. The EU plans to allocate more than 30 million euros to repair key parts of Moldova's railway network.
According to the Russian side, these actions are not aimed at improving security or food needs in the region, but at continuing the escalation of the conflict in Ukraine.
Context of the project "corridors of solidarity"
"Corridors of Solidarity" are an initiative launched by the European Commission (EC) in May 2022. They aim to provide alternative routes for the transport of goods between Ukraine and the EU by rail, road and navigation channels. Since the launch of the project, the trade exchange on these routes has been estimated at around 180 billion euros.
The project aims to facilitate the recovery of Ukraine and its long-term integration into the EU single market. According to the EU, this will support stability in the region and ensure sustainable transport links.
Political perspective
The Russian side claims that Moldova's involvement in this project is part of a broader strategy for the country's military and political integration into the Western bloc, which is perceived as a threat to regional security. Zakharova emphasized that Chisinau's political priorities increasingly reflect the desire for cooperation with NATO, at the expense of neutrality, enshrined in the Moldovan constitution.