Moldova Gets No Gas Discount but Signs a Military Deal with Ukraine
Moldovan Prime Minister Vasile Tofan returned from Kyiv without a discount on Ukrainian gas. However, he brought back a controversial military-technical cooperation agreement with Ukraine. The deal quickly drew sharp criticism from the opposition.
MPs are demanding the full text of the agreement. They say it was signed behind closed doors, without proper public discussion. They also doubt Tofan’s claim that the deal does not affect Moldova’s neutral status.
At a press conference in Chisinau, the prime minister defended the agreement.
“This is not a security treaty. To avoid giving propaganda material to anyone, the Republic of Moldova remains a neutral country,” Tofan said.
According to the prime minister, the deal is mainly about access to technology that Ukraine has tested “not in laboratories, but in real combat conditions.” This includes technology designed to intercept drones.
“Neutrality does not mean that we must remain defenseless or neglect our own defense,” Tofan added. He stressed that Moldova has limited resources and wants to buy proven technologies at lower prices.
Expert Says Military Agreement Does Not Violate Neutrality
Romanian political analyst Mihai Isac, who supports the government’s position, also defended the agreement. He argued that signing the deal did not violate Moldovan law or international law.
“For Moldova, the key issue is access to the experience of a country that constantly adapts its defenses to real warfare. This experience could help train personnel, protect infrastructure and identify technological solutions suited to Chisinau’s limited resources,” Moldpres quoted him as saying.
However, Isac noted that the agreement’s real value would depend on the specific programs introduced. Their funding and the division of responsibilities would also matter.
Opposition Warns That Moldova’s Neutrality Is at Risk
The opposition sees the agreement very differently. Communist Party MP Adrian Domentiuc told parliament that the deal could threaten Moldova’s neutrality. He also stressed that the full text of the signed agreement was still unavailable.
Speaking on behalf of the Party of Communists of the Republic of Moldova (PCRM), Domentiuc condemned what he called an attempt by the prime minister to undermine the country’s neutral status.
“Citizens expected the authorities to address illegal border crossings by Ukrainian military personnel and alleged attempts to carry out killings on Moldovan territory. Instead, we received a military-technical agreement with Ukraine, a country involved in an armed conflict. This raises questions about Moldova’s neutrality,” he said.
The Party of Socialists of the Republic of Moldova (PSRM) went further. It described the agreement as a cynical cover for the country’s militarization.
In its statement, the party argued that military cooperation with a country involved in an armed conflict effectively draws Moldova into a foreign war. It warned that this could turn the country into a frontline zone and a potential target.
The Socialists demanded that the full agreement be declassified and published. They also called for government leaders to appear before parliament and explain the deal.
Grosu Accuses Opposition of Acting in Bad Faith
Parliament Speaker Igor Grosu responded sharply to the criticism. He accused the opposition of acting in bad faith and rushing to report to its “bosses in Moscow.”
Grosu said Moldova had similar military-technical agreements with around 180 countries, including Russia and Belarus. He also promised that the agreement with Ukraine would be published after the ratification process was completed.
