Thread by @TheStudyofWar

#Putin's speech also followed his February 21 decree revoking his May 2012 edict on Russia's position on #Moldova's territorial integrity. isw.pub/UkrWar022223

https://twitter.com/TheStudyofWar/status/1628591931101007874

2/ #Putin revoked his 2012 orders to the Russian Foreign Ministry to firmly uphold the principles of the United Nations Charter - which require the development of friendly relations between states on the basis of equality, respect for their sovereignty and territorial integrity -

3/ ...and also revoked #Russia's commitment to actively seek ways to resolve the #Transnistria issue on the basis of respect for Moldovan territorial integrity.

4/ The revocation of the 2012 decree does not indicate that #Putin intends to attack #Moldova—an undertaking for which he lacks military capability—although it does point toward an escalation in his ongoing efforts to undermine the Moldovan state.

5/ The new decree also canceled #Russia's provision of "consistent implementation" of the Strategic Arms Limitation Treaty (START) with the United States.

6/ #Putin stated that he signed the decree "in order to ensure the national interest of the Russian Federation in connection with the profound changes taking place in international relations." isw.pub/UkrWar022223