Ukraine has no plans to open consulate in Transnistria

Ukraine has no plans to open a consulate in Transnistria, Ukrainian foreign minister Leonid Kozhara told a press conference in Moscow after talks with Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov. 

"Ukraine also has a great interest in Transnistria, and a large number of Ukrainian citizens live in that region. But this issue has not been raised at the bilateral level with Moldova," Kozhara said, UKRINFORM reports.

At the same time, the Russian Foreign Ministry reiterated the desire to open a representative office in the region. Sergei Lavrov said that Russia had appealed to the government of Moldova with such request, because a lot of Russian citizens live in this area and require consular services.

"We explained to our Moldovan counterparts that a consulate should not be regarded as a step to the recognition of independence. A consulate is located in the territory of the state, where there is the embassy of the same country... So there should be no fear or apprehension," Lavrov said.