Experts see Moldova as a "breeding ground" for Kremlin leader Putin, the country is exposed to attacks from Russia. Now Europeans from 50 countries are coming together. The news ticker.
- Summit in Moldova: Olaf Scholz hopes for signs against Vladimir Putin in the Ukraine war
- Consultations in Moldova: Volodymyr Zelensky on guest list
- Moldova's accession to the EU? Like Ukraine, the country hopes for fast-track proceedings
Frankfurt/Chisinau – "There has never been such a mega-event in the history of Moldova": If everything goes well, the summit will be proof of what the state can do, Felix Hett told the AFP news agency. Hett is the state representative of the SPD-affiliated Friedrich Ebert Foundation for Moldova and Ukraine.
Chancellor Scholz hopes for signs "against Russian imperialism"
"Moldova is not alone" is the motto of the summit, which is expected to be attended on Thursday (1 June) by the heads of state and government of 47 European countries and the heads of the EU institutions. Ukraine's neighboring country is to send a signal to Kremlin chief Vladimir Putin.
The summit takes place symbolically at Mimi Castle, which is located just a few kilometers from the Ukrainian border. Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) expects the summit to send a clear signal "against Russian imperialism," as a spokesman in Berlin said.
Moldova summit in the Ukraine war: Preparations for Mimi Castle in Bulboaca © Daniel Mihailescu/AFP
Moldova summit: Volodymyr Zelenskyy on guest list
The former Soviet republic of Moldova has not only been exposed to attacks from Moscow since the Ukraine war. On Moldova's eastern border, there is Transnistria, a region ruled by pro-Russian separatists. Russia has stationed soldiers there, and the fear of coup attempts is great.
Under the slogan "#MoldovaIsNotAlone" ("Moldova is not alone"), politicians are making statements about the summit on Twitter, led by French President Emmanuel Macron. "We are talking about energy, migration, security, defence, infrastructure and geopolitics in Moldova," he announced in a mobile phone video.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is also on the guest list. His participation has not been confirmed for security reasons.
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Moldova's accession to the EU: government hopes for fast-track procedures
The pro-European government under President Maia Sandu also hopes that the summit will send the signal for EU accession in a fast-track procedure by 2030, alongside Ukraine. However, this issue is not the focus of attention at Mimi Castle, EU representatives in Brussels said.
"There is a breeding ground in Moldova for influence from Russia," Hett pointed out. "The Moldovan opposition, with the help of Moscow, is trying to return to power," he said, adding that the power base of the pro-European government is "fragile." (AFP/frs)
