Russia’s unprovoked invasion of Ukraine is making Moldova think about whether the country needs to drop its neutral status and join the “broader alliance.”
This was stated by the country’s president, Maia Sandu, in an interview with Politico, Ukrinform reports.
“Now, there is a serious discussion … about our capacity to defend ourselves, whether we can do it ourselves, or whether we should be part of a larger alliance,” she said, answering a question about Moldova’s possible accession to NATO.
She added that the change in the country’s neutral status should take place only in a democratic way, and emphasized that the strengthening of Moldova’s defense capabilities is not an act of provocation as the Kremlin claims.
“Moldova is a peaceful country. It’s not Moldova that started a war against its neighbors. Russian propaganda managed to convince part of the population that neutrality means you don’t have to invest in your defense sector, that neutrality means you do nothing and you have no capacity to defend yourself, which is wrong,” she said.
According to the president, Moldova remains highly “vulnerable,” being subject to Russian hybrid war through propaganda and disinformation.
Thanks to the Ukrainians’ courage and resistance, we are not facing military threats as of now,” she says. “We are facing a range of risks, but none of it compares to the situation in Ukraine and, and to the price that Ukrainians are paying.”
As reported by Ukrinform, President Sandu previously stated that she has nothing to talk about with the aggressor state, Russia.
Photo: tv8
Source: Russian invasion of Ukraine forces Moldova to consider joining "broader alliance" - Sandu
