Moldovan president gives speech in plenum of Lithuania's Parliament

President Maia Sandu today delivered a speech in the plenum of Lithuania’s  Parliament, on the occasion of the 36th anniversary of the restoration of independence, as Lithuania was the first state to break definitively free from Soviet occupation. On this occasion, President Sandu presented a copy of the resolution adopted by the Chisinau legislature on May 31, 1990, which recognized Lithuania’s restored independence. Moldova was the first country in the world to take this step, even though at that time, it was still part of the Soviet Union.

“It was our own small act of courage. An act of solidarity made before we ourselves were free. And today, 36 years later, I stand before you to say: the spirit of that gesture endures.”

President Sandu emphasized that solidarity between the two countries stems from a shared historical memory. The Molotov–Ribbentrop Pact of 1939 sealed the fate of both Lithuania and Moldova: “We simply woke up in an empire we had never chosen.” Both states experienced occupation, deportations and the suppression of national identity. In the context, the head of state reiterated that a culture of remembrance— in schools, in public institutions and in the way we speak about our past— was a form of resilience and national defense.

Referring to Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, now in its fifth year, President Sandu sent a firm message: Russia is not winning. “Behind triumphant headlines and territorial claims lies a system under enormous pressure.” Ukraine, the head of state stressed, is not only surviving, but also innovating, redefining how modern wars are fought. “Ukraine’s survival goes hand in hand with our own,” Maia Sandu said.

The head of state also referred to the hybrid war that Russia had been waging against Moldova for years: financing opposition parties, using energy as a weapon, disinformation campaigns and attempts to buy votes. Nevertheless, the citizens of Moldova have chosen Europe—through a constitutional referendum and through presidential and parliamentary elections won despite unprecedented pressure. “Moldova will be safer inside the European Union. And the EU will be stronger with Moldova inside it. In such an unstable world, leaving democratic nations in grey zones is a risk Europe cannot afford.”

The Moldovan president concluded with a call for support addressed to Lithuanian MPs. “We are not asking for more than the chance you were given. We are not asking for more than the support you received,” the head of state said. She added that Moldova was modernizing under the conditions of a war at its border and ongoing hybrid attacks, working against the clock.

Maia Sandu thanked Lithuania for its constant support to Moldova and Ukraine and urged Vilnius to continue advocating in Brussels, in the European Council, and in all relevant fora for the enlargement of the European Union for those who had truly earned their place in the European family. “Lithuania has been one of Moldova’s strongest supporters. We feel this. We are grateful to you.”

Lithuania will take over the rotating Presidency of the Council of the European Union on January 1, 2027.