On her return from Ukraine, the President of Moldova Maia Sandu said it is very important to continue the bilateral dialogue so as to ensure the protection and sustainable utilization of the Nistru River so that its water serves the current and the future generations. “The water of the Nistru River ensures the life and welfare of millions of people who live in the basin of this river, both in the Republic of Moldova and in Ukraine. I reiterated the proposal to ask the European Union to carry out an environmental impact assessment,” Maia Sandu told a news conference where she summed up the results of her visit to Kiev, IPN reports.

Maia Sandu said that in the meeting she had with her Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelenski on January 12, they expressed their concern about the situation of the river, including about the problem related to the Nistrean hydroelectric complex.

The officials also referred to the opportunity of building a bridge over the Nistru, which will shorten the trips between the two states. Volodymyr Zelenski said it is important to continue the common fight against smuggling on the border segment and cooperation for the common integration into the European market.

This was the first official visit paid by President Maia Sandu to another state and the first meeting of the Presidents of the Republic of Moldova and Ukraine during the last five years. Maia Sandu invited Volodymyr Zelenski to pay a visit to Chisinau.