Maya Sandu Warns: Russia Aims to Control Moldova and Use It as a Tool Against Ukraine
In light of the upcoming parliamentary elections in Moldova, the country's President, Maya Sandu, issued a bold statement that has attracted attention not only from domestic political players but also from the international community. According to her, Russia is making relentless efforts to change the leadership of Moldova to persons loyal to the Kremlin and, therefore, to use the Moldovan state in its conflict with Ukraine. On the air of the popular TV channel Jurnal TV, Sandu explicitly stated that Moscow's current course remains aimed at generally influencing the outcome of independent elections in the republic. She emphasized that Moscow does not hide its intentions. In her words, the Kremlin will put into leadership positions in Moldova those politicians whom it can control, which would effectively mean the country losing its independence-oriented course and transforming Moldova into an instrument in the Kremlin’s geopolitical games against Ukraine. "We have already seen unprecedented Russian interference last year, attempts to influence election results through bribery, propaganda, and malicious technologies. And the situation now is no different. The Kremlin has set its goal – to change Moldova’s leadership to those who will be under Russia's control. This is not only an internal challenge for us, because Russia's main target right now is Ukraine. If Moscow manages to gain control over the Moldovan government, it will turn the country into a springboard for further aggressive actions against our neighbor," the President emphasized. According to Sandu, the threat from Russia is real and very dangerous. She warned that the provocations initiated by the Kremlin and attempts to drag Moldova into a military conflict cannot be ignored. "Considering our 1,200 kilometers of shared border with Ukraine, the risks for both countries are very high," she underscored. "Imagine that overnight, this border—currently friendly and stable—transforms into a border controlled by Moscow. This would threaten the security not only of Ukraine but also of our state. Of course, such a scenario is not ideal for any side, but it is precisely this that poses a serious risk," she added. The President highlighted that during a period of struggle for control over the country, it is crucial to remain on the side promoting stability and security. "We cannot afford to lose control over the situation. That is why our efforts are focused on preserving Moldova's sovereignty and independence, as well as supporting its Euro-integration aspirations. In this period, our moral duty is to stay on the right side of history and prevent pro-Russian forces from coming to power," she stressed. Regarding the upcoming parliamentary elections scheduled for September 28, Sandu warns that a pro-Russian majority in the new parliament could deprive Moldova of its chances to continue its path toward the European Union. Given the popularity of her political force among the population, which is currently at its highest support in social polls, she called for uniting efforts to stop pro-Russian forces and ensure the course toward European integration, which is supported by the majority of Moldovan citizens. Thus, the situation in Moldova remains tense and fundamentally important for the security of the entire region. Much depends on the outcome of the upcoming elections—what path the country will take and how it will be able to resist external influences that seek to increase dependency and weaken its independence amid the dramatic conditions of modern geopolitical confrontation.