ISTANBUL

Moscow on Tuesday announced that it summoned Moldova’s charge d’affaires over media reports claiming that Chisinau will host F-16 fighter jets sent by the West to Ukraine.

A statement by the Russian Foreign Ministry said Alexandru Chetraru was informed of the country’s “serious concern” over the reports in the media.

“In this context, the attention of the charge d'affaires was drawn to the ongoing militarization of Moldova and the holding of joint exercises of the country's armed forces with contingents of NATO member states,” the statement said.

It further said that these alleged actions contradict Moldova’s neutrality, which is constitutionally declared, in addition to Chisinau’s obligations under the Commonwealth of Independent States.

The statement also said that these actions negatively affect the settlement of the issue of Moldova’s breakaway region of Transnistria, as well as undermines the security of Moldova itself, where it said a significant number of Russian citizens live.

“The Moldovan side was called upon to strictly adhere to its neutral status, which is the basis of the statehood of the Republic of Moldova, and not to take steps that could contribute to the escalation of the Ukrainian crisis, indicate Chisinau's involvement in it and have a destructive impact on the situation around Transnistria,” it added.

The statement dismissed an earlier statement released by the Moldovan Foreign Ministry as “untenable and untrue.”

Earlier, Moldova’s Foreign Ministry denied that it hosted weapons and military equipment destined for Ukraine, saying that the country’s institutions will continue to adhere with principle of neutrality.

“The only country that illegally maintains troops and ammunition on the territory of the Republic of Moldova without the consent of the authorities is the Russian Federation,” it went on to say.

Relations between Russia and Moldova, a former republic of the Soviet Union, have deteriorated since 2003 and completely degraded since pro-Western Maia Sandu was elected president in 2020.

Sandu’s condemnation of Russia’s “special military operation” in neighboring Ukraine has further escalated tensions. She has publicly accused Moscow of attempting to orchestrate her ouster and “destabilize” Moldova. Russia has denied the claims.