Moldovan President at PACE: Europe facing two wars – military one and another against democracies

President of the Republic of Moldova Maia Sandu delivered a speech at the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), in which she warned that Europe is currently facing two wars: a military one, waged by Russia against Ukraine, and another hybrid war, directed against European democracies.

"As the Republic of Moldova holds the rotating presidency of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe, allow me to remind you that this organization was born from the failure of European democracies to protect themselves in time, from the realization that peace without democratic resilience is only temporary.

The Statute of the Council of Europe is explicit: its purpose is to achieve a greater unity, to protect human rights, to defend democracy and the rule of law. Not just as ideals, but as systems that must withstand pressure, manipulation and abuse. The Council of Europe was never meant to be a comfort zone. It was conceived as a line of defence.

Today Europe is once again at war. In fact, in two wars. The first is visible, brutal and devastating.

Russia is waging a large-scale conventional war against Ukraine. Cities are being destroyed, civilians are being killed, and energy infrastructure is being deliberately targeted. This winter, millions of Ukrainians are living in darkness and cold, not because of the weather, but because the Kremlin has turned the freezing of civilians into a weapon of war — to break the will of a nation by making life itself impossible.

For most of us, such suffering is hard to imagine, but for Ukrainians it is a daily reality. And this calls not only for our solidarity, but also for our responsibility," Maia Sandu stated.

The head of state said that the war launched by the Russian Federation in Ukraine is "visible, brutal and devastating", characterized by the destruction of cities, the killing of civilians and deliberate attacks on energy infrastructure. According to Maia Sandu, millions of Ukrainians live in cold and darkness not because of weather conditions, but because "the freezing of civilians has been turned into a weapon of war." She stressed that this reality demands not only international solidarity, but also responsibility.

In her speech, the president mentioned that the Republic of Moldova is on the front line of the second war – the hybrid one.

"For two consecutive years, our country has faced massive electoral interference on multiple fronts: an energy crisis meant to exert economic pressure on vulnerable citizens, politically motivated corruption targeting parties and candidates, an information war on online platforms, cyberattacks against institutions and voters — all with a single goal: capturing Parliament, installing a government controlled by Kremlin, destroying our democracy, dragging the Republic of Moldova into Russia’s sphere of influence and using it against Ukraine and Europe. And if this plan failed, the aim was to delegitimize the elections, provoke disorder and undermine trust in state institutions," Maia Sandu declared.

At the same time, the head of state underlined that for the Republic of Moldova, the war in Ukraine is not a distant one, noting that the country’s peace is closely linked to Ukraine’s resilience. She warned that, in the absence of accountability for Russian aggression, there can be no lasting peace, and the lack of justice risks turning conflicts into mere pauses before new wars.

Maia Sandu highlighted the essential role of the Council of Europe in this context, not as a neutral observer, but as a guarantor of democratic values and international law. She pointed out the importance of accountability mechanisms, including the Register of Damage, for restoring trust in the rules that underpin European peace and security.

In conclusion, the president drew attention to the information war, amplified by technology and algorithms, which aims to divide societies from within. Maia Sandu said that the Republic of Moldova has managed to withstand this assault through a collective effort of society, while expressing concern about the situation in Georgia, where, according to her, Russia has managed to exploit the fear of war to influence the country’s democratic path.

"I am proud to say that Moldova has resisted this assault for two years through an effort of the whole society. Our citizens have demonstrated their commitment to peace, Europe and democracy. However, I regret to see what is happening in Georgia, where, despite the courage of the Georgian people, who continue to defend democratic values, European aspirations and the right to decide their own future, Russia has managed to bring Georgia back into its orbit, using the fear of war as a weapon and suggesting that a ‘wrong’ electoral choice would cost the country its peace," the president concluded.

In Strasbourg, the head of state will have several meetings, including with PACE President Petra Bayer, Council of Europe Secretary General Alain Berset, President of the Venice Commission Marta Cartabia and President of the European Court of Human Rights Mattias Guyomar.

The head of state will attend the ceremony commemorating the victims of the Holocaust together with the Secretary General of the Council of Europe and the President of PACE.