Moldova will not send troops to Ukraine: Sandu explained Chisinau’s position

Moldovan President Maia Sandu said that Chisinau is not considering sending its military to Ukraine due to the constitutional neutrality of the state. At the same time, the country is ready to continue supporting Ukraine in other areas, in particular in security and humanitarian aid.

Sandu said this during an interview with Deutsche Welle, commenting on Moldova’s possible participation in the so-called “coalition of the willing” after the potential cessation of hostilities in Ukraine.

According to the president, Moldova remains a neutral state, and therefore is forced to act within the framework of the Constitution.

“Moldova is a neutral country, and we are obliged to adhere to the neutrality enshrined in the Constitution,” Sandu emphasized.

At the same time, she emphasized that Chisinau is already helping Ukraine and is ready to continue supporting the Ukrainian side in those areas that do not contradict the neutral status of the state.

In particular, Moldova participated in the demining of Ukrainian territories and joined the work of the “solidarity corridors” created to support Ukraine during the war.

“We continue the discussion because we want to help. But at the same time, we are obliged to adhere to constitutional neutrality. Therefore, there are things that we cannot do, including sending soldiers,” the president said.

Sandu separately touched on the issue of the Russian military presence in unrecognized Transnistria. She emphasized that Moldova managed to avoid destabilization and prevent the country from being drawn into war, but the problem of the presence of Russian troops remains relevant.

“We managed to preserve peace. We managed to avoid destabilization, which could first drag the region, and then the entire country, into war. But it is in the interests of Moldova, Ukraine and the EU as a whole to achieve the withdrawal of Russian troops from Moldova,” Sandu said.

The President also stressed that the issue of regional security is directly related to Russia’s war against Ukraine and further stability in Europe.

Earlier, Maia Sandu declared Moldova’s readiness to join international security initiatives, despite the country’s neutral status. At the same time, Chisinau continues active consultations with the European Union on the future of the Transnistrian region and its possible reintegration.