Russian expert: Russia does not want to recognize Transdnestr independence as it does not need “another Kaliningrad”

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The Transdnestr settlement will continue to be fading, at least within next few years, and talks will most possibly be held for talks, deputy head of the Foreign and Defensive Policy Council (Russia) Dmitry Suslov announced at an international conference in Chisinau called “Transdnestr Conflict Settlement in the Context of Europeization of the Republic of Moldova,” a REGNUM correspondent informs.

“Russia does not want to recognize independence of the Transdnestr Republic. It would have been a foreign policy and state catastrophe for Russia. Russia would have another Kaliningrad, which would be in a not quite friendly surrounding, and Russia does not need it at all,” Suslov believes.

At the same time, according to the expert, “the status quo and de facto independent existence of Transdnestr as well as Russian influence in the region (physical, economic, military) in Moscow is treated as a guarantee that Russia is presented here and a guarantee that Russia’s role in the negotiation process is preserved.”