President of the Republic of Moldova Maia Sandu said that accountability and steadfast support for Ukraine are essential conditions for achieving lasting peace in Europe. She made the statement at the Diplomatic Conference dedicated to adopting the Convention on the establishment of the International Claims Commission for Ukraine, held in The Hague.
Maia Sandu emphasized that the large scale aggression of the Russian Federation against Ukraine continues to take lives, destroy cities, and undermine the foundations of European security. She said that the international community must focus on saving lives, ending suffering, and securing a peace that does not create the conditions for a new conflict.
The president reiterated that the Republic of Moldova supports all efforts to end the war and achieve a dignified peace, stressing that the outcome of this conflict will shape Europe’s future. She highlighted the importance of accountability and stated that peace cannot last without clear mechanisms of responsibility embedded in laws and institutions.
In her speech, Maia Sandu warned that accountability concerns not only Ukraine but all of Europe. She pointed to the effects of hybrid warfare already felt beyond the front line, including airspace violations, sabotage of critical infrastructure, cyberattacks, and disinformation campaigns. According to her, the front line exists wherever Europeans lose their sense of safety and stability.
The head of state stressed the importance of the Convention establishing the International Claims Commission for Ukraine, calling it vital for both the victims of the war and the international system as a whole.
“Law cannot undo loss, but it can acknowledge harm, restore dignity, and send a clear message to aggressors that violations will be punished,” Maia Sandu said.
She welcomed the role of the Council of Europe in building a credible institutional framework for this mechanism and highlighted the contribution of the Netherlands, noting that The Hague stands as a global center of international law.
Referring to the situation on the ground, Maia Sandu said that Ukraine continues to resist and defend not only its own territory but also Europe’s security, adding that Russia has failed to achieve its military objectives. She stressed that consistent and resolute support for Ukraine remains essential, as Ukraine’s success represents a prerequisite for Europe’s future peace.
At the same time, the president emphasized the importance of sanctions and the isolation of the Russian Federation, noting that a war of aggression must not remain economically sustainable. In this context, she welcomed the European Union decision to freeze Russian assets indefinitely, calling it a strong deterrent signal.
In conclusion, Maia Sandu said that Europe bears responsibility for peace and security and warned that failure at this moment could endanger the continent’s democratic and peaceful future. She reaffirmed the commitment of the Republic of Moldova, as the country holding the Presidency of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe, to support a united, determined, and solidary Europe that understands that supporting Ukraine today is the price of peace tomorrow.