Presidency of the Republic of Moldova
Distinguished guests,
We are here today to talk peace. We all want peace. But what truly defines peace? We know for sure what peace is not.
Peace is not capitulation to the aggressor. Occupation of parts or entire countries is not peace and can never be the foundation for peace.
Does anyone here – at this table – believe that giving up parts of your countries can truly bring about lasting peace?
Peace must be defended. By all of us. We must forge a world that is strong and cohesive and that actively supports nations like Ukraine in their quest for peace and security.
Today, I stand before you to reaffirm Moldova's unshaken commitment to the restoration of peace in Ukraine and in Europe. A peace that respects Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.
We might have limited resources, but we have a strong desire to help. Moldova has taken important steps in line with Ukraine’s peace formula.
On food security, we facilitate grain exports from Ukraine to global markets, particularly important for countries where food security remains a pressing concern.
On humanitarian measures, we have welcomed hundreds of thousands of refugees and joined international efforts to free abducted Ukrainian children.
On justice, we have joined the Council of Europe’s registry of damages, to ensure Russia pays reparations.
Equally important, we are building resilience so that we can preserve stability at home and be a strong and supportive neighbour to Ukraine with whom we share 1200 km of border.
Our own journey however is not without challenges. Hybrid attacks, coordinated by Russia and its proxies, continue to test us, attempting to undermine our democracy and interfere with our sovereign choices in the upcoming elections.
But we have never been more determined to prevail. We understand the stakes at hand— our peace, our freedom, the future of our children.
Ladies and gentlemen,
Peace cannot be bottled within borders; it must be fostered and spread. Therefore the enlargement of the European Union, a fundamentally peace project, is the best investment in lasting peace and stability on the European continent.
In closing, let me be clear: Ukraine's peace is Moldova’s peace —and, in this interconnected world, global peace cannot exist without it. Only by standing together, across continents, can we secure a peaceful future for all.
Slava Ukraini!
