Moldova's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and European Integration summoned Russian Ambassador Oleg Vasnetsov after Russia's military command said Russian forces planned to take control of southern Ukraine and gain "another way out" into unrecognized Transnistria, the NewsMaker reported. The country's Foreign Ministry has expressed deep concern in this regard.
"The Ministry considers these statements unfounded and contrary to the position of the Russian Federation on supporting the sovereignty and territorial integrity of our country," the ministry said.
In addition, the Foreign Ministry told Vasnetsov that Moldova is a neutral country.
The Moldovan Foreign Ministry is summoning the Russian ambassador for the second time in a week. On April 20, Vasnetsov was called because of statements by Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova. She promised a "painful response" to the fact that Moldova has banned the use of Z, V, and St. George's ribbon symbols as symbols of military aggression.