Moldova applies to join EU as Russian danger on its doorstep
March 4, 2022, 4:37 pm

Moldova applies to join EU as Russian danger on its doorstep

Moldova is country lying in the northeastern corner of the Balkan region of Europe. Its capital city is Chișinău, located in the south-central part of the country. This photo has been captured during Winter holidays in Moldova this year(File photo: Facebook page)

The Euronews reported, Moldova has formally asked to join the European Union, a week after Russia invaded Ukraine.

President Maia Sandu said in a statement: "Today we sign the application for the accession of the Republic of Moldova to the European Union. It is addressed to Emmanuel Macron, President of France, the country that today holds the Presidency of the Council of the European Union. We will submit the application in the coming days in Brussels."

She added: "The Republic of Moldova must have a clear European path. We are ready to do everything possible to achieve this fundamental national goal."

The Euronews said that this comes 24 hours after another former Soviet country -- Georgia -- requested membership of the 27-member bloc.

Ukraine, meanwhile, has asked to be rapidly accepted into the union, but doubts remain over whether all EU countries would back enlargement.

Moldova's President Maia Sandu (File photo: Facebook page)

Moldova, a small state of 2.6 million people, has been directly impacted by the Russian invasion of Ukraine, with more than 112,000 Ukrainian refugees pouring into the country since Moscow launched the attack on 24 February.

Sandu said in her statement: "The maturity of a people is best seen in difficult times. It is seen in temperate decisions, in the balance between freedom and responsibility. It is read in the determined calm of the people when a real danger knocks at the door."

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"The citizens of the Republic of Moldova prove to the world that they are a mature people. We proved it when we did not allow tyranny to settle in our country. We have shown that we will only live by the rules when we defend democracy in elections.

She also said: "And now, in the days of the war in Ukraine, hearing the cannons on the border of Moldova, we remain mature and offer help to our neighbours, who are fleeing the disaster. We remain neutral, but we remain supportive, calm, generous and responsible."

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She added that "if some decisions need time, others need to be made promptly and decisively, using the opportunities offered by the changing landscape of the world. We must act immediately when circumstances require and we see clearly the opportunity to ensure a safer, better life for future generations. Achieving this goal is our duty to the citizens."

Source: euronews

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Upon arriving to participate in the summit of the European Political Community, which includes around forty heads of state in Budapest, he said, "I look forward to sitting with the elected U.S. president and seeing how we will collectively ensure we meet challenges, including the threats from Russia and North Korea." He also noted that the strengthening of ties between Russia and North Korea poses a threat to the United States as well, according to reports from Agence France-Presse.

Before Trump's victory, Rutte expressed confidence that a united Washington would remain part of the defensive alliance, even if Trump became the 47th president of the United States. In an interview with German public broadcaster ZDF last Monday night, he stated that both Republicans and Democrats understand that NATO serves not only the security of Europe but also that of America. He added that both candidates are aware that the security of the United States is closely tied to NATO.

On Wednesday, NATO congratulated Trump on his victory but did not address the Ukrainian issue.

It is noteworthy that the relationship between the elected U.S. president and the defense alliance was not the best during his first term in the White House. Trump criticized NATO member states multiple times and even hinted at withdrawing from the alliance unless they increased their financial contributions.

Additionally, the issue of the Russian-Ukrainian war is one of the matters that complicate relations between the two sides, especially since Trump has repeatedly stated that he can end this ongoing conflict, which began in 2022, quickly. He implied that he had a peace plan between Kyiv and Moscow, while his vice president, JD Vance, revealed aspects of that plan, which stipulated Ukraine's commitment not to join NATO, thereby sending reassuring signals to the Russians.

Furthermore, many NATO member states in Europe fear that Trump might halt military aid to Ukraine after he previously criticized the U.S. for pouring funds into supporting Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.