Zelensky, Sandu discuss security, EU integration, economic cooperation

This was stated by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky during a joint press conference with Moldova’s President Maia Sandu, an Ukrinform correspondent reports.

“Today, President Sandu and I focused on key issues: security, our cross-border cooperation, our defense, development, infrastructure, energy. We also had a very substantive discussion about our path to the European Union – a shared, partner-driven path. Both our countries deserve to be part of a strong, united Europe,” Zelensky said.

He stressed that Ukraine consistently supports Moldova’s European integration aspirations.

“Ukraine has always defended Moldova’s right to be part of the EU. Earlier, we took significant steps to ensure that both our countries received candidate status. We are now working to ensure that all clusters are opened promptly and that EU membership becomes our shared success – for Ukraine, Moldova, and the entire EU,” he added.

Zelensky noted that Ukraine will continue to support Moldova in security matters.

“We will continue to support Moldova in security issues, including those related to the Transnistrian region,” he said.

He also highlighted the development of trilateral cooperation with Romania, particularly in infrastructure and energy.

“We are ready to further develop our trilateral formats together with Romania. We are making important progress in infrastructure, including transport routes, transit, and energy, particularly cross-border power transmission lines. The more real connections there are between our energy systems, the more protection there will be for the lives of our people,” the Ukrainian President said.

Separately, the two sides discussed intergovernmental cooperation and economic issues.

“We also discussed our intergovernmental work today. It is important that any economic issues that naturally arise in relations between neighbors are resolved as quickly as possible and in our common interest,” Zelensky added.

For her part, Sandu called on the EU to immediately begin accession negotiations with Ukraine and Moldova without delay.

“Chornobyl taught us forty years ago what shared vulnerability means. Russia’s current war is teaching us again. That is why we plainly say that Moldova’s security and Ukraine’s security are interconnected. This is why the European path matters so much. The EU has always promised that progress will be rewarded. Moldova and Ukraine have met the conditions for the official start of accession negotiations,” she said.

Sandu stressed that honoring EU commitments is essential for trust in the enlargement process, and recalled that the EU had already acted with unity and determination by providing €90 billion to Ukraine and imposing new sanctions on Russia.

“The EU must bring the same unity to the enlargement process and begin negotiations for both our countries without further delay,” the Moldovan President urged.

She also noted that Ukraine’s reconstruction is a shared European responsibility and expressed Moldova’s readiness to contribute.

As previously reported by Ukrinform, Moldova’s President Maia Sandu arrived in Kyiv on Sunday, April 26, for a visit marking the 40th anniversary of the Chornobyl disaster.