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Moldova says it is working with the EU and the United States on a new plan to reintegrate the breakaway region of Transnistria, but officials are withholding details for now due to what they describe as sensitive issues.
The country’s Deputy Prime Minister for Reintegration Valeriu Chiveri made the comments after a government meeting on Wednesday.
As Moldova advances toward EU integration, the unresolved conflict and Russia’s military presence on the east bank of the Dniester river have regained political urgency. Transnistria has been a Russian-backed breakaway region since a 1990s conflict with Moldovan forces, with its status unresolved for decades.
Chiveri said the roadmap is still being drafted and that several elements require caution and time. He noted that revealing steps publicly while talks are ongoing could undermine progress.
“We can’t describe every action in real time,” he said, adding that the government will present the plan once it is ready.
Reporters asked whether the Transnistria issue could be linked to any wider settlement discussions involving Russia and Ukraine. Chiveri said the only relevant overlap is regional security and that any such talks would focus solely on the withdrawal of Russian troops from the region.
He stressed that Chisinau intends to pursue the reintegration process through negotiations that include the Transnistrian side, supported by EU and US partners.
Chiveri said previous international formats for talks have broken down since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Moldova and Transnistria are now holding direct discussions without outside mediators.
EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said this month that removing Russian troops from Moldova and other parts of Europe remains essential for long-term stability.
Transnistria’s continued separation poses both security and political challenges for Chisinau’s European aspirations.
Moldovan Prime Minister Alexandru Munteanu confirmed in November that discussions with Western partners on a reintegration plan were underway.
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For the first time in history, “Ukrainian Defense Industry”, Ukraine's joint stock company, has entered the list of the 100 largest arms manufacturers in the world by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI). The company reported a 41% increase in revenue compared to 2023, ranking as the fourth fastest-growing company in Europe.
The year 2024 was record-breaking for the global defense sector, with the combined revenues of the 100 largest companies reaching $679 billion, the highest number ever recorded by SIPRI. Growth was fueled by Russia's war against Ukraine. The only regional group experiencing a decline was Asia, primarily due to a reduction in arms revenue in China.
The Ukrainian Defense Industry (JSC UOP) has:
This growth is on par with that of European companies such as Diehl (+53%) and Rheinmetall (+47%), although Ukraine's company operates amid the war.
Meanwhile, the revenues of the two Russian companies included in the ranking grew by 23% in 2024.
Total revenues of the 100 largest companies in 2024 reached a record high, primarily driven by the US and Europe.
Top companies by revenue:
Ukraine's JSC UOP maintains active partnerships with nearly all the top-ranked companies and produces ammunition, artillery, armored vehicles, and missiles despite import shortages and sanctions.
In terms of growth, Ukraine's JSC UOP ranked sixth globally and became the fourth fastest-growing company in Europe:
Ukraine demonstrates resilience and a high growth rate in its defense industry even amid war, enhancing its strategic importance in the global market.
© Christopher Jones for The New York Times
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