The President of the Republic of Moldova, Maia Sandu, told CNN that “Ukraine needs to receive more support, and everyone should understand that if Ukraine is not helped, then Russia will not stop at Ukraine or Moldova.”
In an exclusive interview conducted in Chișinău by renowned journalist Christiane Amanpour, Maia Sandu added that she hopes more support will come soon so that Ukraine can reclaim its territories and we can witness the “end of this senseless war.”
Christiane Amanpour spoke with President Maia Sandu on Sunday, as the Republic of Moldova marked its 32nd anniversary of independence. The country borders Ukraine and has experienced serious tensions with Russia, especially due to the pro-Russian separatist territory in the eastern part of the country, Transnistria, where Russian troops are stationed. In February, Russian President Vladimir Putin revoked a 2012 foreign policy decree that partially recognized the independence of the Republic of Moldova, CNN recalls.
Maia Sandu explained in the interview with Amanpour that there is a regime in Transnistria supported by Russia. “There are Russian troops illegally stationed in the Transnistrian region. And, of course, this is how Russian authorities try to influence things in the Republic of Moldova,” Sandu said.
Tensions escalated even further since Russia’s large-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, along with the reciprocal expulsion of diplomats between Moscow and Chișinău.
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“When people from Russia try to overthrow a democratically elected government, it is a very clear sign that there is no respect for that country,” Sandu stated to Amanpour, referring to the expulsion of Russian diplomats.
The Republic of Moldova is not currently a member of the European Union, but it submitted an accession request shortly after Russia launched its invasion and then obtained candidate status in June 2022. President Maia Sandu noted that “it’s a lengthy process” and acknowledged that “there are still corrupt judges and prosecutors (in the Republic of Moldova) who do not want the reforms to succeed.” However, she emphasized that “Moldova’s democracy will be preserved when the country becomes an EU member state.”
When asked about the death of Evgeny Prigozhin, Maia Sandu mentioned that “this only confirms the risks that come from Russia, a country that lacks justice. Unfortunately, this is not limited to Russia’s borders. Unfortunately, this is how Russia also acts towards its neighbors,” Maia Sandu said.
The full interview with Maia Sandu will be broadcasted on CNN on Monday at 20:00.