Zelenskyy, Sandu issue joint statement
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Moldovan President Maia Sandu issued a joint statement after talks in Kyiv, in which they noted the current aspects of bilateral and international cooperation between the two countries, the President's Office of Ukraine said on Saturday.
The President of Moldova arrived in Kyiv at the invitation of the President of Ukraine.
In their statement, the heads of the two states, in particular, emphasized the importance of relations between Ukraine and the Republic of Moldova, which are based on the principles of good neighborliness, common democratic values, and respect for international law.
The presidents also called for the withdrawal of Russian forces from all temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine and strongly condemned Russia's targeted and systematic attacks on Ukraine's civilian infrastructure. "These attacks also threaten Moldova's citizens by violating its sovereign airspace, with drones landing on Moldovan soil," they said.
Zelenskyy and Sandu said Russia's full-scale aggression against Ukraine and ongoing violations of international norms call into question Russia's role as a mediator and guarantor in various conflict situations, in particular in the Transnistrian conflict, and reaffirmed their shared commitment to the peaceful reintegration of the Republic of Moldova through negotiations and called for the unconditional withdrawal of Russian troops from the Transnistrian region.
The heads of state condemned Russia's unprecedented subversive activities and hybrid attacks against Moldova, especially in the context of last year's presidential elections and referendum. "These actions demonstrate a clear intent to systematically interfere in democratic processes, aiming to destabilise the wider region and undermine stability in Europe," they said.
Zelenskyy and Sandu also stressed the importance of improving communications between the Republic of Moldova and Ukraine, which includes developing the existing transport infrastructure, simplifying border crossings, eliminating bottlenecks and creating new border crossing points.
They underscored the significance of using existing cooperation mechanisms within international organizations, as well as regional formats, in particular the trilateral: Ukraine – Romania – Republic of Moldova, in order to "foster cooperation between the states on security, energy, infrastructure and other projects."
The presidents also acknowledged the progress made by both Ukraine and the Republic of Moldova towards the strategic goal of gaining full membership in the European Union, both states are committed to implementing the reforms necessary for European integration and opening all negotiation clusters by the end of 2025.
In conclusion, Zelenskyy and Sandu said Ukraine and the Republic of Moldova are committed to further deepening interstate relations based on mutual trust and respect, openness and comprehensive cooperation for the benefit of the citizens of both states.