Germany and the Problem of the “Frozen Conflict” Over Transnistria in the Years 1990–2025

Abstract

The main goal of this article is to examine Germany’s involvement and diplomatic efforts in resolving resolving the frozen conflict over Transnistria, which is the point of contention the dispute between Moldova and the self-proclaimed, independent republic of Transnistria, supported mainly by Russia. The author’s intention is to assess the effectiveness of Germany’s actions, Berlin’s diplomatic successes and failures in relations with Chisinau, Tiraspol, Moscow, as well as in contacts with world powers and international organizations, including primarily the USA, the OSCE, and the European Union. The main research hypothesis assumes that Germany was only minimally involved in resolving the Transnistria problem after 1990. The impetus for Berlin’s shift towards resolving the “frozen conflict” was the Russian aggression against Ukraine, which began in 2022 and opened the possibility of conflict escalation in Europe, including in Transnistria.