EU countries pledge strong support for Moldova amid Ukraine crisis

BERLIN (AA) – European countries, led by Germany and France, pledged strong political, financial and humanitarian support to Moldova on Tuesday, as the country faces growing challenges due to the war in neighboring Ukraine.

German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock told an international conference in Berlin that they will mobilize immediate support for Moldova to help the country manage the refugee crisis, address security concerns, and reduce its dependence on Russia.

“This is not a favor to Moldova. This is about us. It’s also about our security. It’s about our common European peace project,” Baerbock said, and underlined that EU countries will strengthen their cooperation with Moldova with a long-term perspective.

“Russia’s war is not just an attack on the Ukrainian people. It is also an attack on our rule-based international order, and our values,” she said, and slammed Moscow for its threats against the countries in the region.

“All people have the right to decide their own future. No one should be at the mercy of their stronger neighbor. Neither the people of Ukraine, nor the people of Moldova,” she added.

French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian, who co-hosted the conference, thanked Moldova for opening their borders to refugees fleeing the war in Ukraine, and promised that European countries will demonstrate strong solidarity with the country.

“This mobilization of support will be a success, not only because of our solidarity or generosity, but also because we clearly understand that we have joint interest. Your security is our security,” he stressed.