Podolyak on Danilov’s Appointment: “He Knows What Risks Russia Poses”

The appointment of the former secretary of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine, Oleksiy Danilov, as ambassador to Moldova indicates the increased status and importance of the region. He went to Chisinau no for an “honorable retirement”, but to work and do good, as Danilov is well aware of the risks emanating from Russia and Moscow’s methods of action, many of which have been experienced by Ukraine. This was stated on 8 April in the New Week with Anatolie Golea program on TV8 by Mykhailo Podolyak, advisor to the head of the Ukrainian president’s office. “This is not an honorable exile, but an increase in the status and importance of the region. We understand that Russia is and will continue to make many more attempts to destabilize the situation [in Moldova]. These are numerous pro-Russian parties, the autonomy of Gagauzia, the enclave of Transnistria. There are constant propaganda campaigns. Danilov is an experienced person in terms of understanding these risks, what Russia is, what technologies it uses. Because they were also applied in Ukraine. (...) For me, Danilov’s appointment is a clear indication that Moldova’s status is extremely important for us. If in Ukraine Russia leads expansion by means of war, in Moldova it does the same, but with other methods. Information, political, coup d’etat, cultural,” Podolyak said. According to him, Ukraine is interested in Moldova’s European path of development. Kyiv seeks to understand what is happening inside Moldova and to “synchronize” the proceeding of the two countries towards Europe. Commenting on the drone explosions in the Transnistrian region, for which Tiraspol blamed Ukraine, Podolyak said that Kyiv is definitely not interested in opening a second front against the region, as it is waging a full-scale war on a huge front line of more than 1,300 kilometers. He described the events in Transnistria as provocations that Russia might be behind in order to destabilize the situation in Moldova and Ukraine’s rear.