German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock has drawn parallels between Russian President Vladimir Putin's actions in Ukraine and in the unrecognised country of Transnistria.

"Russia has been weaponising minority groups in Ukraine for many years. In Moldova, Putin is using the same blatant tactic with the separatists in Transnistria," Baerbock wrote on Twitter (X) on Thursday.

She stressed that Moldova "is not alone, and has strong friends." 

"No country is Russia's backyard and should not be destabilised," she noted.

Seit Jahren instrumentalisiert Russland Minderheiten in der 🇺🇦. In #Moldau setzt Putin mit den Separatisten in #Transnistrien auf das gleiche durchsichtige Drehbuch. Moldau steht nicht allein, es hat starke Freunde. Kein Land ist Russlands Hinterhof & darf destabilisiert werden.

— Außenministerin Annalena Baerbock (@ABaerbock) February 29, 2024

On 28 February, illegitimate "lawmakers" at all levels in unrecognised Transnistria gathered for a congress and adopted an appeal to Russia to "protect it from Moldova's pressure", also addressed at a number of international organisations.

The Moldovan government called those statements propaganda.