Moldovan foreign affairs ministry's message on one year of war in Ukraine

Chisinau, 24 February /MOLDPRES/ - Deputy Prime Minister, Foreign Affairs and European Integration Minister Nicu Popescu has had a message on marking one year of Russia’s war against Ukraine, the Foreign Affairs and European Integration Ministry’s (MAEIE) press service has reported. 

The message reads:   

„Exactly one year ago, the first explosions occurred in Ukraine were heard in Moldova.  

What seemed to be impossible for many people started happening under our eyes:

Russia was attacking Ukraine.

This was a difficult period, during which our society proved that it can cope with multiple challenges. 

Starting from the first hours, we firmly and unequivocally condemned this brutal, unjustified war of Russia against Ukraine.   

We opened our homes and hearts for hundreds of thousands of refugees who fled the war and delivered humanitarian assistance to more regions of Ukraine. Our roads and railways played an important role for the connection of Ukraine’s infrastructure to the European Union’s one, thus contributing to the Solidarity Corridors, the global community’s solution to the blockage of the Odessa port and of the Ukrainian export of cereals.     

We reoriented our exports to the EU market and maintained the economy functional.    

We managed to access new sources of gas and electricity due to the interconnections with Ukraine, Romania and EU. With the support of our friends and partners, we managed to provide compensations to the people with modest incomes, so that they can pay the invoices for gas, heating and energy this winter. We do not depend only on one supplier – Russia – for the first time ever in the history of our country.     

We have coped with the hybrid challenges, attempts to create chaos and destabilize our region.  

This year of war at the border has proved us that we cannot afford to be alone in a region which became such dangerous. The neutrality must not mean loneliness, indifference and isolation, Along with our partners, we modernize our security sector, in order to be able to provide security to our citizens.     

Today we look into the future with hope. We became country candidate for accession to EU and we are sure that we will become EU member state. We have capable and gifted people and we will together bring our country to EU.  

We know that we are not alone and therefore, we are happy that we have reliable partners, who will help us overcome all challenges.   

We cannot and we should not forget the sacrifices and sufferings of our Ukrainian neighbours, who defend our country as well, for which we thank them.  

This year, we proved that we can manage crises, that we are in solidarity with each other and with those who flee bombardments and terror, that we are united in the wish to maintain peace, freedom and to speed up our country’s European integration.’’   

Photo: MAEIE