EU Leaders Visit Moldova Ahead Parliamentary Elections Amid Ukraine Accession Dispute

Moldova stands at a critical juncture as it approaches parliamentary elections on September 28, which are widely viewed as a referendum on President Maia Sandu's pro-European Union agenda. European leaders, including Germany’s Chancellor Friedrich Merz, France’s President Emmanuel Macron, and Poland’s Prime Minister Donald Tusk, have shown strong support by visiting Chișinău during Moldova’s Independence Day celebrations, signaling that the country's European path is real and irreversible. However, the timing of opening EU accession negotiations for Moldova remains contentious within the EU, with some diplomats cautioning against rushing the process ahead of elections to avoid setting a problematic precedent. Moldova faces significant internal challenges, including a likely increase in pro-Russian factions and concerns over alleged Russian interference, such as attempts to influence the elections through cryptocurrency funding. The election also represents a broader geopolitical choice between competing democratic models: the technocratic EU-aligned approach championed by Sandu and the contrasting vision associated with U.S. President Donald Trump’s administration. Overall, Moldova's future direction—between European integration and Russian influence—is poised to shape the region’s stability and democratic trajectory.