România, Republica Moldova și Ucraina strâng rândurile în fața amenințării ruse: Mesajele Maiei Sandu și Nicușor Dan

**Romania, Moldova and Ukraine reaffirm cooperation amid Russian aggression**

*Chisinau, 28 August 2026* – On the occasion of the 35th anniversary of Moldova’s independence, President Maia Sandu held a joint press conference in Chisinau with Romanian President Nicolae Dan and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. The three leaders highlighted the close ties between their countries and reiterated their commitment to regional security in the face of ongoing Russian threats.

**Shared values and common challenges**

President Sandu said the three states share “the same attachment to the fundamental values of our civilization: peace, liberty and democracy.” She recalled that, 35 years ago, Romania, Moldova and Ukraine were “poor countries on the margins of Europe, with ruined economies and an uncertain future.” Today, she noted, they are “European states that sit at the same table and are respected in Europe and the world.”

Sandu described Romania as a NATO and European Union member, Ukraine as a nation defending “an entire continent from a brutal aggressor,” and Moldova as a country whose citizens have “defended, by vote, their belonging to the European family” and are now negotiating EU accession.

**Russian intimidation**

Addressing recent security incidents, Sandu said that the airspace of both Moldova and Romania “has been violated dozens of times” by Russian drones. “Even today, on the eve of our celebration, Russian drones entered our airspace in an attempt to intimidate us,” she declared, adding that Moldova “will not be intimidated.” She announced that Moldova is investing in anti‑aircraft defence to protect its people and infrastructure and called on “all free countries” to help Ukraine strengthen its own anti‑drone capabilities before winter.

**Infrastructure and energy cooperation**

President Dan emphasized the continuation of trilateral cooperation in infrastructure, energy and security. He referred to the SAFE programme, under which Romania will construct a highway to the Moldovan border and extend it a few kilometres into Moldova, as well as a highway to the northern border with Ukraine. “These projects will greatly improve connectivity among our states,” Dan said.

The leaders also discussed joint energy projects and interconnections, and Dan noted that Romania and Moldova could cooperate on preventing drone attacks, echoing Sandu’s earlier remarks about recent airspace violations.

**Bilateral issues with Ukraine**

Dan announced that a meeting of the mixed committee on minority rights between Romania and Ukraine is scheduled for Friday. The agenda, he said, will focus on “the most important issue – education in the mother tongue” for minority communities in both countries. He described the strategic partnership between Romania and Ukraine as “advancing,” and cited Moldova as “an example for all European countries that are in the accession process.”

**Ceremonial events**

The trilateral meeting followed a military parade held in the Great National Assembly Square in Chisinau to mark Moldova’s Independence Day. President Zelenskyy did not attend the parade. The independence celebrations this year are organized under the theme “Independence Unites Us,” according to the national news agency Agerpres.

**International context**

The three presidents reiterated their condemnation of Russia’s aggression against Ukraine and reaffirmed continued support for Ukraine in what Dan described as “this unfair fight.” Sandu also highlighted the role Romania has played in advocating for Moldova’s European integration, noting that when Romania joined the EU in 2007, “Moldovans saw with their own eyes that this path is achievable.”

The joint statements underscore a coordinated effort by Romania, Moldova and Ukraine to strengthen regional ties, enhance security, and pursue deeper integration with European structures while confronting the ongoing security challenges posed by Russia.

Article and image source: dcnews.ro