Secretary of State Blinken promises to support Moldova as Ukrainian refugees pour in

The U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Sunday pledged to support the former Soviet republic of Moldova as Ukrainian refugees pour in and the small Western-leaning nation tackles its own pro-Russia breakaway region.

More than 230,000 refugees have entered Moldova since Russian President Vladimir Putin launched his invasion of Ukraine on Feb. 24, according to Voice of America. At least 120,000 refugees are still in Moldova, officials stated.

Moldova, which has a population of less than 3 million, is requesting international help with refugees in addition to security assurances against Russia. 

"I of course can't speak for the European Union, but I can say that we very much support Moldova's European aspirations and welcome the work that's being done in that direction," Blinken said at a press conference alongside Moldovan President Maia Sandu.

Moldova formally applied to join the EU last week, as an estimated 1,500 Russian troops are currently based in the breakaway region of Transnistria in eastern Moldova, VOA reported.

Transnistria "has been described as where the Soviet Union and Communism 'never died,'" Just the News reported. U.S. citizens were told last month to leave the unrecognized breakaway state immediately, and U.S. citizens evacuating Ukraine have been instructed to not enter Moldova through Transnistria.

The breakaway state has denied accusations that it is preparing to join forces with Russia to fight Ukraine, The Jerusalem Post reported.

Transnistrian President Vadim Krasnoselsky said his army is "in a standard mode, military units are in places of permanent deployment."

Blinken announced that the United States will invest $18 million over the next several years "to help strengthen and diversify Moldova's energy sector." 

He stressed that "greater energy security is vital for… sovereignty." 

The United States also supports "negotiations to find a comprehensive settlement to the Transnistrian conflict," Blinken said. The settlement seeks to uphold "Moldova's sovereignty and territorial integrity with a special status for Transnistria," he said.