President’s blunt message at Council of Europe ministerial session: Russia - greatest danger to continent

Russia is the greatest danger to the European continent, President Maia Sandu said today at the ministerial session of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe. At the same time, the head of state drew attention to the information war waged by Russia in parallel with the military conflict, which she described as a direct threat to European democracies.

The head of state underlined that the foundation of the EU is represented by human rights, democracy and the rule of law, which have been turned into functional mechanisms for the protection of citizens.


“The founders of the EU based it on three pillars – human rights, democracy and the rule of law – not as abstract ideals, but as functional systems that offer real protection to citizens,” she noted.


Maia Sandu recalled that Europe’s security architecture has worked through the complementarity of the main Western institutions, including NATO, the European Union and the Council of Europe.


“Together, these institutions have formed a common architecture. As a result, states that emerged from dictatorship became stable democracies, and the European continent experienced a period of lasting peace,” the head of state said.


In this context, the President warned that these achievements are once again under threat.


“Today, this achievement is once again in danger,” Maia Sandu stressed, referring to the intensification of attacks on Ukraine.


The head of state mentioned that Russia has recently launched the most powerful attacks since the beginning of the war, with hundreds of drones and missiles, which have also targeted civilian infrastructure.


“Russia does not want this war to end. It is deliberately continuing attacks against civilians, targeting hospitals, schools and critical infrastructure. We must state very clearly what we see: Russia is an aggressor and represents the greatest danger to our continent today, and probably for future generations,” Maia Sandu declared.


The President also highlighted Ukraine’s role in defending the European continent, stating that it has become an essential security actor.


“Ukraine is not only defending its population and territory, but has developed military and technological capabilities that are being studied across Europe. Ukraine has, in concrete terms, become a security provider for this continent,” the head of state said.


Maia Sandu called for increasing pressure on Russia and for strengthening international accountability mechanisms, including through the creation of the Special Tribunal for investigating the crime of aggression against Ukraine.


“It is essential for the Republic of Moldova to be a founding member of the Special Tribunal created within the Council of Europe,” the President stated.


At the same time, the head of state drew attention to the information war waged in parallel with the military conflict, which she described as a direct threat to European democracies.


“The war is not taking place only on the front lines. In parallel, there is a cognitive and information war that targets the way people think, vote and lose trust,” Maia Sandu noted.


In conclusion, the President underlined the need to modernize democratic defense tools and to accelerate the enlargement of the European Union.


“For the Republic of Moldova, joining the European Union is an existential project. For Europe, it is an investment in its own security,” Maia Sandu concluded.


The Republic of Moldova is hosting today the 135th Ministerial Session of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe. The event is attended by over 50 delegations from member states, including more than 20 foreign ministers.

The meeting is taking place at the Palace of the Republic in the center of the capital.

The Republic of Moldova took over, on 14 November 2025, the Presidency of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe. The mandate is exercised by our country for a period of six months, until 15 May of the current year. This is the second time the state holds this responsibility, the first Presidency being exercised in 2003.

The Republic of Moldova became a member of the Council of Europe on 13 July 1995.