German FM says Moldova Russia’s next target if Ukraine falls

"Everything that we do to support Ukraine also means fostering stabilization with regards to Moldova," Baerbock said in Chișinău.

Sep 17, 2024 - 21:00

German FM says Moldova Russia’s next target if Ukraine falls

German-Foreign-Minister-Annalena-Baerbock

On 17 September at the Moldova Partnership Platform conference in Chișinău, German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock said Moldova could be Russia’s next target if Ukraine loses the ongoing Russo-Ukrainian war, emphasizing the importance of supporting Kyiv to ensure Moldova’s stability, according to Reuters.

Chișinău is hosting the fifth Ministerial Conference of the Moldova Partnership Platform, initiated in March 2022 by Romania, Germany, and France following Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Today’s event brings together over 65 delegates, including foreign ministers from France, Romania, Poland, the Netherlands, and Lithuania. Germany, one of Kyiv’s main military supporters in Europe, views the Moldova Partnership Platform as part of broader efforts to stabilize the region and counter Russian influence.

Baerbock said:

“Everything that we do to support Ukraine also means fostering stabilization with regards to Moldova. It is clear what the greatest concern of the people here is: that if Ukraine falls, Moldova is the next country in line.”

At the conference, Baerbock also announced an additional EUR 100 million in winter aid for Ukraine, citing ongoing Russian attacks on its infrastructure.

During the conference, agreements were signed to provide Moldova with more than 300 million euros ($334 million) in loans and 80 million euros in grants, as reported by the government’s press service.

Moldovan President Maia Sandu highlighted the ongoing challenges faced by the country:

“You are all aware that Russia’s war against Ukraine, which we condemned from the very first day, hurt our economy deeply, more than any other economies, except for Ukraine. And the uncertainty created by the war continues to severely constrain our economic development and will continue to do so for as long as the war lasts.”

Moldova is situated between Ukraine and NATO and EU member Romania. The Moldovan government doesn’t have control of one of its regions, Transnistria, where Russian troops have been stationed since the early 1990s.

Related:

You could close this page. Or you could join our community and help us produce more materials like this. We keep our reporting open and accessible to everyone because we believe in the power of free information. This is why our small, cost-effective team depends on the support of readers like you to bring deliver timely news, quality analysis, and on-the-ground reports about Russia's war against Ukraine and Ukraine's struggle to build a democratic society. A little bit goes a long way: for as little as the cost of one cup of coffee a month, you can help build bridges between Ukraine and the rest of the world, plus become a co-creator and vote for topics we should cover next. Become a patron or see other ways to support. Become a Patron!