You're reading: Ukraine vows to continue backing 5+2 format for Transdniestria settlement process

Ukraine has vowed to continue supporting the Transdniestria settlement process in the 5+2 format (Transdniestria and Moldova as the negotiating parties, Russia, Ukraine, and the OSCE as mediators, and the EU and the U.S. as observers).

“Ukraine will continue to support the 5+2 format of negotiations on
the Transdniestria settlement and will continue adhering to its
commitments as a guarantor in the negotiating process,” the Ukrainian
embassy to Moldova said in a statement on July 25.

The Ukrainian leadership’s position regarding the settlement of the Transdniestria conflict remains unchanged, it said.

“The Transdniestria conflict should be resolved peacefully, through
negotiations and based on Moldova’s territorial integrity, taking into
account interests of the Transdniestrian population. The Ukrainian
leadership will continue to act from the position that any new
initiatives on settling the conflict over Transdniestria should be
discussed and coordinated in the 5+2 format, with all of its
participants’ involvement,” the statement says.

Some media outlets reported earlier this week that Kyiv intended to
sever its agreements with Russia providing for the presence of Russian
peacekeepers in the self-proclaimed Transdniestrian Moldovan Republic
and force them to leave the conflict area, the embassy said. “The
Ukrainian embassy notes that it had to reaffirm Kyiv’s official position
amid media speculations on the matter,” it said.