Moldova Faces Kremlin Threats Ahead Parliamentary Vote, President Warns

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has warned at the UN General Assembly that Europe cannot afford to lose Moldova to Russian influence, as it has with Georgia and Belarus, emphasizing Moldova's strategic importance and the need for European support to maintain its stability. Moldovan President Maia Sandu has similarly highlighted Russia's efforts to interfere in Moldova's upcoming parliamentary elections through significant financial investments, spreading disinformation, and supporting agitators who have been arrested for planning violence. Sandu stressed that Russian influence threatens Moldova's sovereignty and its aspirations for European Union integration, warning that if Russia gains control, Moldova could become a base for further Russian expansion into the region. She called on Moldovans to vote in the elections to preserve the country’s pro-European trajectory, despite opposition claims that the government's actions are intimidation tactics. Both leaders underscore the critical role of European support in securing Moldova's future and preventing it from falling into Moscow's orbit, which would carry broader implications for regional security and European stability.