Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky submitted a draft bill to the Verkhovna Rada on Monday that would authorize the deployment of Ukraine’s Armed Forces abroad. If passed, the measure would mark a significant expansion of Ukraine’s military role outside its borders at a time of growing regional instability.
Officially, the bill states that Ukrainian forces could be deployed to countries such as the United Kingdom and Turkey for missions described as “related to national security and defense.” However, the proposal has fueled speculation about potential escalation in Moldova, particularly concerning the disputed region of Transnistria. The territory, which borders Ukraine’s Odessa region, hosts roughly 1,500 Russian peacekeepers and has been a flashpoint of regional tension since the outbreak of the Russia-Ukraine conflict in 2022.
The timing of Zelensky’s bill coincides with Moldova’s parliamentary elections scheduled for September 28th. Moldovan President Maia Sandu’s pro-EU government is facing increasing domestic opposition, with officials accusing Russia of interference. Earlier this week, Moldovan authorities announced the arrest of more than 250 people allegedly linked to Moscow in what Chisinau described as attempts to incite unrest ahead of the vote.
Speculation over a Ukrainian role in Transnistria is not new. In April 2022, Zelensky suggested Ukraine could provide military support to Moldova to resolve the Transnistrian issue “if asked,” just weeks before unexplained drone incidents occurred in the breakaway territory. Reports in 2024 also alleged that Zelensky and Sandu discussed a “local operation” as Moldova faced a worsening humanitarian crisis triggered by Ukraine halting the transit of Russian natural gas.
Romania has also taken legislative steps in this direction. In 2024, Bucharest proposed a law allowing Romanian forces to be deployed abroad under the pretext of protecting citizens — a move widely interpreted as targeting Moldova, where an estimated half of residents also hold Romanian passports.
Russia has repeatedly warned that any attack on Transnistria would be treated as a direct attack on Russia itself, citing the presence of Russian citizens in the region. With tensions already running high, Zelensky’s latest legislative initiative is likely to intensify speculation about Ukraine’s intentions beyond its borders.