VIDEO | Nosatîi hits back at socialists who criticize military agreement with Ukraine: Negotiations began when PSRM was in government. "It's clear they have a short memory"

Defense Minister Anatolie Nosatîi criticized opposition representatives, especially the socialists, for condemning the military-technical cooperation agreement signed between the Republic of Moldova and Ukraine, even though negotiations for this document began back in 2019, when some of the current critics were in power. The official claims that the discussions lasted until 2021, and the document even went through parliamentary procedures before being signed this week in Kiev.

During the show "The Shadow Cabinet" on Jurnal TV, moderated by Vitalie Călugăreanu, Nosatîi was asked about the accusations of the Socialist Party, which claims that the agreement would violate the neutrality of the Republic of Moldova and could draw the country into a military conflict.

The minister responded that the document has a history of many years and that some of the politicians currently contesting it participated in the state leadership during the period when it was being negotiated.

"This agreement is being discussed between the defense institutions of the Republic of Moldova and Ukraine from 2019 to 2021. During this period, those who are condemning today were at the helm of the state. Some were prime ministers, and some were also defense ministers. It is clear that they have a short memory and do not remember what processes they were conducting," said Anatolie Nosatîi.

According to the minister, negotiations advanced until 2021, when the draft agreement reached the Parliament, to the Foreign Policy Committee. In August of the same year, the document received the necessary approval to continue the procedures, and was subsequently transmitted to the Government.

"So, as a result of all these negotiations, only in 2021 did the agreement negotiated and approved by both parties reach the Parliament's Foreign Policy Committee, because without the Commission's opinion it cannot be promoted to the Government for approval. And this approval was in August 2021, which means that the new Parliament gave the opinion to be sent to the Government and on September 24 it reached the Government to promote this agreement for negotiation," Nosatîi explained.

The minister said the process was not completed in 2021 due to the security situation on Ukraine's borders, when Kiev was concerned about military threats. Talks resumed in 2025, when the two states agreed to move forward with signing the document.

"But we remember that period in 2021, with the exercises at the border, and the Ukrainian side was simply not willing, they didn't have time to deal with it. It is a very important agreement, because the framework agreement with Ukraine is not detailed in the military-technical chapter. Some countries require detailing to advance in the field of this cooperation. […] In 2025 we agreed to move forward, to return to this subject and to sign this agreement, because it is very important for us to learn from the lessons learned, to have access to the technologies and the best equipment and tools that are currently used to defend against those dangers that come from the Russian Federation," the minister said.

Nosatîi also responded to the socialists' requests to publish the agreement in full, arguing that the procedure must comply with the legislation on international treaties. According to him, the document will become public once the ratification project is registered in Parliament.

At the same time, the minister revealed that the agreement was discussed in March 2026 within the parliamentary committee on the subject, which was attended by representatives of the majority and the opposition. Asked whether the deputies had access to the text, Nosatîi confirmed this.

"We are guided in our activity by international treaties, as well as our national laws. Therefore, all international treaties are promoted based on Law 595 of 1999. Perhaps some who request or condemn do not know this. But a parliamentarian should know this. […] We will promote it as a law for ratification in Parliament and, respectively, when it is registered, it becomes public," the official explained.

The minister also rejected accusations that the agreement would allow Moldova to be involved in the war in Ukraine. He specified that the document includes 12 chapters and does not contain secret provisions, and the cooperation aims at exchanging experience, technical and scientific information and technologies necessary for the modernization of defense capabilities.

"Article 2 of the agreement states that actions taken in the context of the implementation of this agreement cannot be interpreted as an agreement of direct military assistance to one or another state in conflict. We cannot assist Ukraine as long as they are in conflict. Article 3 provides for the 16 points of cooperation that are very generic as in other classic framework agreements, such as modernization, repair, maintenance, operation and safety of military equipment and armaments for, as well as management of spare parts, logistics and management of material resources and teams, including the organization of technical support, equipment and consumables for military personnel. Communication systems, information technologies and interoperability, including technical standards and good practices for their operation and use. Assistance with engineering equipment, chemical protection, logistics, transport and surveillance, medical support and other personnel protection measures. Training and advanced training of specialists, including through exchange of programs and training: internships, seminars and other activities of an academic and technical-scientific. Protection of critical infrastructure, exchange of experience in procurement procedures and development of military equipment. Joint actions in crisis situations, as was the case on the Dniester River, when someone polluted our river with chemicals from the hydroelectric power plant. Disasters, humanitarian operations and others. Development of cyber defense capacity. Development and implementation of airspace surveillance and protection technology, which is a critical area for us now", Nosatîi emphasized.

The agreement on technical-military cooperation between the Republic of Moldova and Ukraine was signed in Kiev on October 26, during the visit of the government delegation led by Prime Minister Vasile Tofan. After the agreement was signed, the Socialist Party accused the PAS government of violating Article 11 of the Constitution, which enshrines the permanent neutrality of the Republic of Moldova. The party demanded the full publication of the document, the hearing of the Government leadership in Parliament, and the annulment of acts that it considers contrary to neutrality. The Socialists even threatened with protests and with the notification of the Constitutional Court.