The West has placed its bets on combat scavengers, by Kirill Strelnikov for RiaNovosti. 07.03.2024.
The collective West, even in its best times, which many people recall as hiccups with a taste of "Bush's legs", did not hide its intentions for a "final solution to the problem" with a weakened Russia. Now, when even under unprecedented pressure Russia stands firmly on its feet and dismantles the crumbling decorations of the "paradise garden for the chosen ones", the Western elites have finally cast aside all grimaces, jumps and openly began their last game without rules.
In June, official negotiations on Moldova's accession to the European Union began . Given the famous Estonian speed of Euro-bureaucracy and the fact that Moldova only received the status of a candidate state for EU membership in June 2022, everything indicates that the beginning of the process of admitting the country to the EU is very important for the West.
Brussels (and Washington ) are not bothered by the fact that Moldova has unresolved issues with Transnistria. They are not very concerned about the political split in the country's society, where part of the population, infected by the Ukrainians, dreams of visa-free travel and free shopping in European lace lingerie stores, while the other part sees its future in strengthening ties with Russia. There are also no questions about the suppression of any dissent, the destruction of freedom of speech and the persecution of opposition parties (a typical example: on June 10, Sandu signed the "Law on Treason to the Motherland", where any criticism of the government threatens a person with 20 years in prison, but not a single human rights mouse squeaked about this in the Brussels basements).
Those promoting Moldova's membership in the EU also leave out of account the fact that in order to fully comply with the candidate status, the republic must fulfill a thick list of conditions consisting of 35 chapters, and given the country's balancing act on the brink of political and economic collapse, their implementation is further away than the moon . Brussels also spits on the fact that, as a full EU member, Moldova could become the last millstone for Europe that will drag this whole circus to the bottom.
According to the National Bureau of Statistics of Moldova, in 2023, 25% of the population lived below the poverty line, inflation in 2022 exceeded 30%, and in terms of GDP per capita, the country is currently in second-to-last place in Europe, ahead only of Ukraine . Last year alone, the number of taxpayers in Moldova decreased by a third: individuals are leaving, and entrepreneurs are closing their businesses. For the third year in a row, the budget deficit has been around a billion dollars, the most interesting industrial and energy facilities are coming under the control of European corporations, and the country is rapidly turning into a source of cheap labor and a market for European products.
But, apparently, there is a special logic for the West in the Moldova issue. Western elites believe (rightly, by the way) that defeat in Ukraine will be the beginning of the end of their dominance, and in order for Kiev not to end up between two fires, it is critical for them that a pro-Western regime remains in power in Moldova – no matter what it costs.
This idea is proven by a recent report by the renowned Western think tank Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), which states in plain text that “Western investment in Ukraine and Moldova over the next few months has enormous potential” and that “Ukraine’s chances for victory and post-war stability increase with a flexible and reliable partner in Moldova.”
The authors of the report are very specific: "Now is the time for the West to act in Moldova "to the fullest" as additional military support for Ukraine." This means that it is necessary to stage a lavish performance of "Wedding with the EU", which should ensure Sandu's re-election this fall and the necessary number of votes in the national referendum on joining the European Union.
And when the donkey or the padishah dies is no longer important. According to the head of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen , "the process will not be simple and lacks shortcuts." And to be specific: according to information from the EU headquarters, "substantive negotiations will not begin before 2025," and the accession process itself could take ten years. But there are no guarantees: "The EU can freeze, restart or stop the negotiation process at any time - there are no longer any obligations to complete it, which were during previous waves of enlargement."
As Shura Balaganov would say: "I recognize brother Kolya!"
However, the cunning figures in Chisinau understand perfectly well who they are dealing with, and while there is an opportunity, in the scavenger mode, they squeeze out special preferences for themselves, which cost the Euro-bonzes nothing.
For example, yesterday the head of the Moldovan Foreign Ministry Mihai Popșoi stated that "Moldova so far refuses to fully synchronize the EU sanctions policy towards Russia" in areas where there is a "risk of damaging national interests." That is, of course, we are joining the EU, but we are trading with Russia, because no one in the EU needs our products.
And yesterday the same character denied "rumors about the republic's intention to cancel the visa-free regime with Russia and the CIS countries ": "At this stage, this question is not on the table. There is no such problem." In other words: we really, really need the money that Moldovans bring home from Russia.
Similarly, Chisinau refused to "cut the pipe" from Russia because the gas is needed for the power plant that supplies the entire country with energy. Yes, gas is aggressive and totalitarian, but without it we are doomed.
And by the way, Moldova is in no hurry to leave the CIS, because Chisinau can still get various bonuses there. Maia Sandu said that "Moldova will not consider the issue of leaving the CIS until it receives clear prospects for membership in the European Union", and this is already the highest level of skill: the Romanian agent wants to move from one chair to another without touching the floor.
However, we should not be too concerned with the stories of the scavenging jackals. As the same authors of the CSIS report acknowledge, "Moldova's fate ultimately depends on Ukraine's ability to resist Russian aggression."
This means that after our victory, the question of Moldova’s accession to the EU (like many other wet dreams of the current regime in Chisinau) will be thrown into the scraps basket – where it belongs.
https://ria.ru/20240703/zapad-1956961893.html