Support from NATO is going to be wearing thin as Russia picks off smaller countries.

Back to russia

I suppose he doesn't want to touch this with a ten foot pole until ater the equally farcical election installs him into Czardom once again.

That gives Moldova a couple of weeks to act, whether or not they do so.

As for the leaders begging Putin for help, that too is a farce. No one is threatening them but I suppose Putin told them what to say, as always. Now it is likely to become another mess. It's unclear what Russia can do to "help" them, there is no seaport and no access by land.Trying to fly anything in will get even more of their planes shot down.

I think Putin is trying to make Moldova roll over and rejoin Mother Russia's empire out of sheer fright. Jury's out on whether that will work. Moldovan forces outnumber the garrison in Transnistria.