On 4 January, the ICDS was pleased to welcome a high-level delegation from the Republic of Moldova, led by Deputy Prime-Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and European Integration H.E. Mr Nicu Popescu.
With the war in Ukraine soon to enter its second year, the agenda was predictably dominated by this most critical issue. The meeting, however, discussed not how to achieve the next ceasefire but how to live safely next door to Russia for the decades to come.
When active hostilities may eventually stop, Europe must maintain unity and continue to grow allied defense and deterrence, for antagonistic and aggressive Russia will remain a security threat. While acknowledging the most pessimistic scenarios, nuclear blackmail, as well as Russia’s political fragmentation and disintegration, it was stressed that they are all speculation, nonetheless. Everyone must realise that Russia’s victory will bring more devastating consequences that its defeat, and thus fears shall not undermine the Western support for Ukraine and jeopardise the future of democracy globally.
Moldova continues to pursue the objective of Transnistrian conflict settlement via political dialogue and the withdrawal of Russian troops through peaceful means
On the prospects of the EU’s and NATO’s enlargement, it was accentuated that Moldova, albeit still committed to its neutral status, has been paying far greater attention to the matters of security, growing its defence budget, and intensifying engagements with its long-standing partners, such as Romania and the U.S. The attendees further exchanged opinions on Moldova’s prospective accession to the EU and the momentum that Ukraine’s gravitas has generated for Chisinau. When the time comes, Moldova will certainly be ready, the meeting concluded.
