Moldova, Ukraine and Romania unite on defense and EU path
Moldovan President Maia Sandu condemned Russian drone incursions into the country’s airspace as intimidation attempts, speaking on Thursday in Chișinău alongside Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and Romanian President Nicușor Dan.
United front against airspace violations
The joint appearance marked the 35th anniversary of Moldova's declaration of independence. Sandu emphasized that recurring Russian airspace violations affecting Moldova and Romania would not deter defense modernization or regional integration.
“Russian drones breached our airspace in a clear attempt to intimidate us,” Sandu said. “We are investing in air defense to protect our people and infrastructure, and we urge the free world to bolster Ukraine’s air defenses ahead of winter.”
The statements followed an incident overnight in which five Russian drones crossed into Moldovan airspace during strikes on Ukraine before returning across the border, according to the National Army's Air Operations Command.
Trilateral security and shared EU path
Sandu traced the 35-year trajectory of the three neighboring states from impoverished post-Soviet transitions in August 1991 to sovereign European nations cooperating on security and EU accession. She noted that Ukraine’s resistance along their shared 1,222-kilometer border directly safeguards Moldovan stability.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky underscored that close cooperation remains vital for nations bordering Russia, citing 11 air raid alerts in Kyiv over the preceding 24 hours.
“Moldova, Ukraine, and Romania are natural allies across logistics and defense,” Zelensky said, reaffirming joint coordination toward European Union membership.
Cross-border infrastructure and interconnection
Romanian President Nicușor Dan reaffirmed Bucharest’s comprehensive support for the European integration of both neighbors, highlighting trilateral infrastructure initiatives under the SAFE program, including planned motorway extensions connecting Romania to Moldova and northern Ukraine.
“This meeting demonstrates our shared maturity and responsibility for regional stability, projecting security into Europe,” Dan said, adding that joint mechanisms are underway to counter cross-border drone incursions.
Translation by Iurie Tataru
