Moldovan president advocates in Kyiv for strengthening Ukraine’s air defense

Ukraine today marked the 35th anniversary of the proclamation of its independence. President Maia Sandu was in Kyiv, together with the leaders of the Coalition of the Willing, to congratulate the Ukrainian people and offer condolences to the families of all those who have fallen.

“It is hard to imagine a free Moldova without a free Ukraine,” President Maia Sandu said. “Ukrainians have been defending their country for four and a half years and, through their courage, they are defending peace across the entire continent.”

At the meeting of the leaders of the Coalition of the Willing, the Moldovan president advocated for strengthening Ukraine’s air defense ahead of the winter—a measure that also means greater safety for the citizens of Moldova. Since 2022,  Moldova has recorded almost 60 violations of its airspace, and in 2026 this number has increased. Every missile and every drone shot down in Ukraine’s airspace means more security for the states of the region, including Moldova.

Our country is strengthening its capacity to monitor its airspace and is cooperating with Ukraine and Romania to exchange information on aerial threats. This cooperation will continue.

The head of state also spoke about regional connectivity. Transport routes linking Moldova to Ukraine and to Romanian ports are important for the national economy and for regional trade. Moldova has reduced by 50 per cent the rail tariffs for grain transit to Romanian ports—a measure that keeps freight traffic on Moldova’s railways and supports Ukrainian exports. Together with Ukraine, work is underway to open new communication routes, including the Cosauti–Yampil bridge, a project long awaited by the communities on both banks of the Dniester.

In the energy field, the Moldovan president emphasized that the region’s energy security is being built together. In the last four years, Moldova has diversified its supply sources and routes and supports regional solutions that strengthen the resilience of the entire neighborhood during the cold season.

The Coalition of the Willing is a political and diplomatic coordination format launched by France and the United Kingdom and co-chaired with Germany, bringing together over 30 states, mostly European. The Coalition’s goal is to support Ukraine in its effort to achieve a just and lasting peace and solid security guarantees that will prevent a new aggression.