Jens Asbjørn Bøgen
The scale of the attacks have increased massively since the Russian invasion of Ukraine began.
The scale of the attacks have increased massively since the Russian invasion of Ukraine began.
What is happening?
Moldovan President Maia Sandu has issued a stark warning: her country must join the European Union if it hopes to survive mounting aggression from Russia.
Speaking before the European Parliament on Tuesday, she described Moldova’s EU aspirations as a matter of national survival—not just shared values.
A border state under siege
Moldova, a nation of just 2.4 million people, shares a long 1,200-kilometer border with war-torn Ukraine.
That proximity has made it a key target for Russian hybrid warfare tactics, including cyberattacks, disinformation campaigns, and election interference.
“A matter of survival”
In a powerful speech in Strasbourg, Sandu declared, “Our European path is not just a matter of values, it is a matter of survival.”
She accused the Kremlin of deploying its full hybrid arsenal against Moldova, describing the scale of attacks as unprecedented prior to Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
Facing Russia’s hybrid war
“We face an unlimited hybrid war on a scale unseen before,” Sandu told EU lawmakers, branding Russia “the greatest threat we face.”
The warning comes amid increasing pressure from Moscow to destabilize the region through covert tactics rather than open warfare.
Kremlin meddling expected in upcoming election
With Moldovans set to vote in parliamentary elections on September 28, Sandu expressed concern that Russia would attempt to sway the outcome.
“Moscow’s goal is clear,” she said, “to capture Moldova through the ballot box, use us against Ukraine, and turn us into a launchpad for hybrid attacks on the European Union.”
A razor-thin referendum win
Last year, a referendum on EU membership passed by a narrow margin—50.4% in favor to 49.6% against—amid clear signs of Russian interference.
In a tense presidential race held alongside it, Sandu managed to defeat a pro-Russian challenger to secure a second term.
Reforms underway, but no illusions
Moldova officially applied to join the EU in 2022 and has since launched sweeping reforms across its judiciary, government, and economy.
Yet Sandu acknowledged the process isn’t flawless: “We are not asking for shortcuts. We are doing our homework diligently,” she said.
Racing against time
Despite the progress, Sandu warned that Moldova is in “a race against time” to protect its fragile democracy.
The threat from Russia looms large, and the pressure to meet EU benchmarks grows more intense as regional instability deepens.
Strong support from European allies
Last month, the leaders of France, Germany, and Poland traveled to the Moldovan capital, Chișinău, in a bold show of solidarity.
Their visit underscored growing European support for Moldova’s path toward EU integration and its resistance to Russian influence.
EU hopes hit a roadblock
Still, Moldova’s EU accession faces significant hurdles.
Its application is currently linked with Ukraine’s, and Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán has repeatedly signaled his intent to block Ukraine’s membership—casting uncertainty over Moldova’s own prospects.
