Maia Sandu to British journalists: “Putin wants to control Europe”
The geopolitical situation in our region poses significant challenges for countries like the Republic of Moldova. President Maia Sandu asserts that joining the European Union would help safeguard our sovereignty. Another possible solution is reunification with Romania; however, the president notes that, at this time, there is insufficient support for this aspiration.
In an interview with prominent British journalists Rory Stewart and Alastair Campbell, the President of the Republic of Moldova, Maia Sandu, discussed the challenges her country faces in combating Russian propaganda and interference from Vladimir Putin in its democratic processes.
Maia Sandu emphasized that Putin's objective is to gain control over Europe, expressing concern that not all Europeans recognize the extent of the Kremlin leader's involvement in the internal affairs of the European Union.
She candidly stated that if there were a referendum on the unification of the Republic of Moldova with Romania, she would vote in favor of it. However, she also acknowledged her responsibility as head of state to consider the realities within Moldova.
"If we had a referendum, I would vote for reunification with Romania. Look at what is happening around Moldova today and worldwide. It is becoming increasingly difficult for a country like the Republic of Moldova to survive and exist as a democracy and a sovereign nation. As President, I understand that there is not a majority supporting unification with Romania, but there is a majority that supports accession to the EU, and we are working towards that goal. It is a more realistic objective that helps us protect our sovereignty," said Maia Sandu.
The President noted that the opportunity for reunification was missed in the early 1990s.
"In the late 1980s, there were National Renaissance movements, and discussions about reunification with Romania took place, as Moldova was once part of Romania. However, we couldn't know how many people would have voted on it since we did not have a referendum. Judging by the large number of individuals who participated in the National Renaissance Movement and the hundreds of thousands who took to the streets, we can say that there would have been support for reunification with Romania," Sandu told the two journalists who host the UK's largest podcast.
During the same interview, Maia Sandu explained how the Romanian language endured the Soviets' Russification efforts and shared insights about her childhood in the USSR.
