Fears of a new crisis in Moldova. The United States interpreted today that support the sovereignty of the country, in a first reaction to the authorities’ request of Transnistria, of a pro-Russian separatist region of Moldova, who “appealed” to Russia for “safeguards” against “pressures” which they claim to receive from Chisinau.

The US is closely monitoring the situation in the breakaway Moldovan region of Transnistria after the internationally unrecognized separatist authorities requested help from Russia, State Department spokesman Matthew Miller said.

“Given Russia’s increasingly aggressive and destabilizing role in Europe, we are following very closely Russia’s actions in Transnistria and the wider situation there,” Miller told a news conference, using the region’s Moldovan name, against the backdrop of rising tensions from the conflict in neighboring Ukraine.

The State Department spokesman said that “the United States they vigorously support the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Moldova within its internationally recognized borders and we continue to encourage Chisinau and Tiraspol to work together and find solutions to the pressing concerns of communities on both sides of the Nistru”, the Dniester River that separates the breakaway region from the rest of Moldova.

Narrow strip of land between Moldova and Ukraine, Transnistria seceded after a brief war in 1992 against the Moldovan army.

Russia maintains 1,500 troops there to guarantee a peacekeeping mission, according to official figures.