Moldovan president says Poland has strong, reliable voice in Europe, Moldova fully committed to this path

Poland has a strong and reliable voice in Europe, and Moldova is fully committed to this path. We are making the necessary efforts, as we believe in the European project and want to contribute to it. President Maia Sandu today made statements to this effect at a joint press conference with President of Poland Karol Nawrocki, in Warsaw.

The official emphasized that Poland had stood by Moldova not only as a friend, but also as a partner in strengthening resilience – a practical resilience that protects citizens and sovereignty.

“Poland and Moldova share a partnership of more than three decades. A partnership built on trust, solidarity and a shared understanding of our region. I am confident that this partnership will continue to be strengthened – politically, economically and strategically. When Russia invaded Ukraine, Moldova was extremely exposed: 100% dependent on Russian gas, vulnerable in the electricity sector and to some extent economically tied to Russia. With the support of our partners, including Poland, we acted quickly. Today, Moldova no longer buys any Russian gas and no longer consumes electricity produced from Russian gas. Our trade with Russia is now below 4%. And while we have strengthened our energy security, we have also defended our sovereignty. During three consecutive electoral years, Moldova’s institutions, media and citizens have stood firm in the face of systematic and unprecedented Russian interference. We estimate that Russia has spent almost nearly 2 per cent of Moldova’s GDP to distort our 2025 parliamentary elections – through coordinated information manipulation, cyberattacks, illicit financing of political parties, acts of sabotage, paid protests and deliberate attempts to provoke violence on our streets,” Maia Sandu said.

The head of state noted that this pressure had not pushed Moldova off its course, but instead reinforced its direction by accelerating reforms, strengthening institutions and further aligning with European Union standards.

“The European Commission’s Enlargement Report recognized that, last year, Moldova recorded the greatest progress among the candidate countries. For us, accession to the European Union is the clearest guarantee of security, democracy, and freedom. Throughout this period, Poland has been a consistent and credible supporter of Moldova within the European Union — and we see this support not only as a sign of friendship, but as a foundation on which we want to build even more together,” Maia Sandu underlined.

The Moldovan president also said that Moldova wanted to expand its trade exchanges with Poland and attract more Polish investment — in agriculture and food processing, industry, infrastructure, energy, construction, IT and the digital economy.

“Our economic ties are growing; yet, there is still untapped potential. Polish companies already present in Moldova show what this partnership can provide. We encourage other Polish entrepreneurs to see Moldova as a safe place for investment, and as a platform to access the entire region. Connectivity supports these ambitions. Expanded air links and strengthened cooperation in transport and logistics bring our economies and citizens closer together. We want to deepen these efforts even further,” Maia Sandu specified.

In the current regional context, the official stressed that security and resilience stayed fundamental.

“Moldova values Poland’s experience in strengthening defense and countering modern threats. We are working on updating and deepening our bilateral defense cooperation agreement, so that it reflects the current security environment and strengthens cooperation between our institutions. This will include closer work in the field of resilience, combating hybrid threats and protecting critical infrastructure. In recent years, Moldova has constantly invested in strengthening its own resilience. This includes experience gained, under difficult conditions, in countering Russian hybrid threats. We are ready to continue learning from Poland’s experience and, where useful, to share our own,” the president pointed out.

Maia Sandu said that the partnership between the two countries was about values and about memory.

“Yesterday, I visited the Katyn Museum – a powerful place for reflection. Moldova wants to learn from Poland’s experience in the field of protecting historical memory and promoting the truth. This is all the more important in a region where disinformation often seeks to rewrite the past, in order to control the future. Your personal commitment to history and memory – including your work at the helm of the Institute of National Remembrance in Poland – is known and respected in Moldova. Preserving memory is not just about the past. It is about resilience. About dignity. And about the values we pass on to the next generation,” the official added.

According to the head of state, Poland has a strong and credible voice in Europe, especially regarding the enlargement of the European Union.

“We share a clear conviction: the enlargement of the European Union is not an act of generosity. It is an investment in Europe’s security. The enlargement of the European Union means extending its space of peace, stability and common values. Moldova is fully committed to this path. We are making the necessary efforts, because we believe in the European project and because we want to contribute to it,” Maia Sandu emphasized.

The Moldovan president also called for solidarity and unity, values that are particularly important in the context of the war in Ukraine.

“We live in a bleak and difficult reality. War has been raging in the heart of Europe for far too long. Rules are being challenged. Borders are being questioned. And peace can no longer be taken for granted. In such times, solidarity is not just a slogan. It is a test of who we really are. This is why, Moldova and Poland stand firmly united in supporting Ukraine, which is defending not only its own freedom, but also the security of the entire European continent. Ukraine’s resistance keeps Russia away from our borders and away from yours. We deeply appreciate Poland’s support for Ukraine — political, military and moral. We also value the solidarity shown by the Polish society, whose concrete support for Ukrainians, including the provision of generators during harsh winter conditions, reflects a strong sense of solidarity and humanity. By helping Ukraine resist aggression, Poland is also contributing to protecting Moldova and to defending Europe’s future. Thank you for your openness and for your friendship. Moldova is proud to stand alongside Poland,” Maia Sandu concluded.

President Maia Sandu is paying an official visit to the Republic of Poland on January 25–26, this year, at an invitation by President Karol Nawrocki. During the visit, the official will meet Prime Minister Donald Tusk, Marshal of the Senate Małgorzata Kidawa-Błońska and the Marshal of the Sejm of Poland, Włodzimierz Czarzasty. The meetings’ agenda includes bilateral cooperation, the accession of Moldova to the European Union and regional security.