France demands Russia pull troops from breakaway region

France has renewed pressure on Moscow to withdraw its military forces from Moldova's breakaway Transnistria region, accusing Russia of violating international law by maintaining troops there more than three decades after the conflict officially ended.

The demand comes as tensions across Eastern Europe remain high, with the unresolved dispute continuing to cast a shadow over regional security on Ukraine's western border.

Paris Marks Anniversary With Fresh Warning

The French Foreign Ministry issued its statement on the 34th anniversary of the July 21, 1992 ceasefire agreement that halted fighting along the Dniester River.

France said Russia had failed to honour both international law and its own commitments by keeping a military contingent in Transnistria. Paris reaffirmed its support for Moldova's territorial integrity and called on Moscow to remove troops it described as "illegally stationed" on the left bank of the Dniester.

The ministry also urged Russia to genuinely support efforts to reach a peaceful settlement to the long-running dispute.

Frozen Conflict Still Shapes the Region

The Transnistria conflict erupted in 1992 after the separatist region declared independence from Moldova. Although the ceasefire ended open warfare, the fighting left hundreds dead and thousands injured while Moldova lost effective control of the territory.

Russian forces have remained in the region ever since, making the dispute one of Europe's longest-running frozen conflicts and an enduring source of friction between Moscow and the West.

Moldova Pushes for International Peacekeepers

Moldova has repeatedly demanded the withdrawal of Russian troops and the removal of a large weapons stockpile held at Cobasna. Chisinau wants the existing military presence replaced with an international civilian peacekeeping mission to oversee long-term stability.

Those calls have so far gone unanswered, leaving negotiations stalled and the political deadlock firmly in place.

Diplomatic Standoff Shows No Sign of Easing

Recent statements from Russian officials suggest there has been little movement towards compromise, reinforcing fears that the dispute will remain unresolved for the foreseeable future.

For France and its European allies, the issue extends beyond Moldova. The continued presence of Russian troops in Transnistria is increasingly viewed as part of a broader challenge to European security at a time when the war in neighbouring Ukraine has heightened concerns over Moscow's military posture across the region.

Get out: France tells Russia to remove "illegally stationed" troops from European region