Moldova deserves the world’s gratitude for welcoming and protecting Ukrainians, said the U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken during his brief visit to Chisinau on Sunday.
“Russia’s unprovoked, unwarranted war on Ukraine has kicked off a humanitarian crisis that is already having a vast effect across the region, including here in the Republic of Moldova (…) And on behalf of the American people, thank you again for your generosity toward the Ukrainian refugees at this urgent moment for democracy and for peace”, stated Antony Blinken at a press briefing held together with Moldova’s President Maia Sandu.
Expecting that the number of refugees will grow, Secretary Blinken said the U.S. Congress has been requested to provide $2.75 billion in emergency humanitarian assistance to vulnerable people in Ukraine as well as to countries like Moldova to help them manage the refugee crisis. “The international community also has a responsibility to help Moldova deal with the impacts of war”, he added.
The official also announced that the U.S. will invest $18 million over the next years to help strengthen and diversify Moldova’s energy sector. “Greater energy security is vital for your sovereignty”.
He went on to condemn Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, reiterating the United States’ support for the sovereignty of all countries, including Moldova. “Moldova has chosen the path of democracy, a more inclusive economy, a closer relationship with the countries and institutions of Europe. The United States supports Moldova in those efforts, grounded in our respect for the neutrality that’s enshrined in Moldova’s constitution.”
President Maia Sandu remarked that just a couple of weeks ago, on February 18, Moldova and the United States marked 30 years of diplomatic relations. “Over the course of these three decades, the United States has supported us in our efforts to strengthen society and the economy, to build a democratic state where every citizen can be free and can think freely. We are grateful for the assistance provided by the United States government and the American people during this period, of over 1.7 billion US dollars, assistance that helped us consolidate as a state. We appreciate the firm support of the United States for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Republic of Moldova and for our European course”, stated the Moldovan president.
According to her, important undertakings by the Moldovan government, such as the judiciary reform, have been put on hold by the “reality that began on February 24”. “It is a dark period for the whole region, where all efforts are directed towards consolidating society around a single goal: peace in the region. As you know, the war in Ukraine is taking place right on the border of our country. We have strongly condemned the military aggression against Ukraine and called for peace from the first hour of the military action. We will continue to call for dialogue and for peaceful solutions as the only way to end the aggression against Ukraine and its citizens”, said Maia Sandu.
She added that Moldova as a neutral state - a principle enshrined in the Constitution - has decided to lend a helping hand to people who are directly affected by the war. According to her, more than 250,000 people have crossed the border between Ukraine and Moldova since the beginning of the war, and a large part of them remain in Moldova for the time being.
“Moldova needs the immediate and significant help of the international community so that our people and our economy can continue to cope with these challenges. We urgently need help with the temporary accommodation of these people, with providing them with basic services and redirecting the flow of refugees who want to go to other countries, European countries that have a greater capacity to receive them. Some states have already expressed their readiness to take in and host refugees from Ukraine in the coming period. Only with the joint, consistent and rapid efforts of all partners can we help Ukraine”, she said.
The Moldovan president expressed her hope that the visit of Secretary of State Blinken will provide fresh impetus to the Moldovan-American partnership. “The Moldovan-American partnership will help us strengthen the resilience of the Republic of Moldova, consolidate our country’s capacity to respond to the challenges of our time. And a stronger, more resilient Moldova can become a pole of stability and development in the region, a reliable partner and an outpost of the free world”, concluded Maia Sandu.
