The President of Moldova Maia Sandu and the President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenski set up the Council of the Presidents of the Republic of Moldova and Ukraine as a new permanent high-level cooperation format. According to Maia Sandu, this is an important step towards establishing strategic relations. This permanent interaction mechanism will help to work out policies and strategies, to solve the problems from the bilateral agenda and to monitor the implementation of the reached agreements.

President Sandu noted the Moldovan-Ukrainian dialogue at the level of heads of state was practically suspended. “I reiterate that Ukraine is a strategic partner for the Republic of Moldova and the maintaining of constant and pragmatic cooperation with Ukraine is an important objective for the Republic of Moldova and for the presidential administration,” she stated.

In another development, Maia Sandu said it is very important to continue the dialogue between the two countries so as to ensure the protection and sustainable utilization of the Nistru River.

In the discussions, the two Presidents agreed to step up efforts to identify a sustainable solution so as to ensure mutual trips based on identity cards. They also discussed a project aimed at developing infrastructure on the Chisinau-Soroca-Yampil-Kiev road so as to create a road transport corridor that will shorten trips between Chisinau and Kiev.

For his part, Volodymyr Zelenski said the Presidents Council will work out a strategy and will coordinate the actions for solving the problems existing in the bilateral relations. They agreed to stimulate cooperation in the energy, transport and other sectors and discussed the Transnistrian problem, with Ukraine reiterating its support for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Republic of Moldova within its internationally recognized borders.

The Ukrainian official underlined the opportunity of building a bridge over the Nistru so as to shorten the travel time between the two countries. He also stressed the importance of fighting in concert smuggling on the border segment and cooperating in the common integration into the European market. Among the common objectives is also the obtaining of the status of EU member and of COVID-19 vaccines.

This is the first official visit paid by President Maia Sandu to another state.