Moldova

EU plans tougher safeguards against democratic backsliding by future members

The EU is developing robust safeguards to ensure future member countries cannot backslide on reforms or use their veto power to obstruct the bloc after joining, Enlargement Commissioner Marta Kos…

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Russian official says Russians in Moldova’s Transdniestria under threat

The safety of Russian citizens in Moldova's breakaway Transdniestria region is currently under threat and Moscow will take all steps to protect them, Sergei Shoigu, the secretary of Russia's powerful…

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Moldova’s Sandu Signals Support for Romania Unification as Means to Secure State’s Survival

Moldovan President Maia Sandu has said she would vote in favour of unification with neighbouring European Union and NATO member Romania if a referendum were to take place to help…

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Moldova complains of unacceptable intrusion of Russian drone

Moldova summoned Russia's ambassador to complain about the latest intrusion of drones into its airspace and urged Moscow to take measures to prevent further instances. Russia's ambassador expressed doubt that…

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UPDATED: EU says it could admit new members by 2030, praises Montenegro, Albania, Ukraine

The European Commission said on Tuesday that the EU could welcome new members as early as 2030 as it praised Montenegro, Albania, Ukraine and Moldova for their progress on reforms…

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EU Weighs Partial Membership Plan to Ease Enlargement Deadlock

New countries could join the European Union without full voting rights, in a move aimed at easing opposition from leaders such as Hungary’s Viktor Orbán to Ukraine’s membership. The proposal,…

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UPDATED: Pro-EU party in Moldova wins election mired in claims of Russian interference

Moldova's pro-European ruling party won a resounding victory over its Russian-leaning rival in a key parliamentary election, results showed on Monday, a major boost for the country's bid to join…

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Moldova faces key parliamentary election

Moldova holds a high-stakes parliamentary election on Sunday that could determine the fate of its bid to join the European Union, amid what officials have described as a subversive Russian…

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Why Moldova’s upcoming parliamentary election matters

Moldova holds a parliamentary election on September 28 that could have sweeping consequences for its bid to join the European Union, as it fends off what its government calls Russian…

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President Sandu Urges EU Path for Moldova Amid Russian Threats

Moldova must join the European Union to survive Russia’s aggression, President Maia Sandu warned. The Eastern European country of 2.4 million people, which shares a 1,200 kilometer border with Ukraine,…

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EU leaders open their arms to Moldova

The leaders of France, Germany and Poland on Wednesday issued an open invitation to Moldova to join the EU while urging the country to turn its back on Kremlin propaganda…

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Moldova’s pro-Kremlin regional leader jailed in election fraud case

A Moldovan court sentenced pro-Kremlin regional leader Evgenia Gutul on Tuesday to seven years in jail for channelling money from Russia to finance a political party. Gutul, who has strongly…

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Russia targeting voters across EU, Moldova warns

Russia is ramping up efforts to influence Moldovans living abroad across Europe to try to sway critical elections next month, the EU candidate country’s security chief has warned. National Security…

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EU council sanctions individuals, entities responsible for destabilising Moldova

The European Council said in a statement that it had imposed sanctions on seven individuals and three entities "responsible for actions aimed at destabilising" Moldova, whose leaders are bidding to…

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Moldova urges EU to advance membership talks to counter Moscow

Moldova wants to start membership negotiations with the European Union in earnest before a September election to counter Russian disinformation in the country about the EU, Deputy Prime Minister Cristina…

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Moldova broadens probe into pro-Russian group after detention of ethnic minority leader

Moldova broadened an investigation into the financing of a banned pro-Russian political grouping in the country, two days after the detention of the leader of a pro-Moscow ethnic minority. The…

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European Parliament Approves Historic €1.9 Billion Support Package for Moldova

The European Parliament has endorsed a landmark €1.9 billion support package under the Reform and Growth Facility for Moldova. The financial aid, which includes €420 million in grants, is designed…

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EU to provide Moldova with 60 million euros for defence in 2025

The European Union will provide Moldova with 60 million euros ($62.95 million) to spend on defence this year, the European Council's president said, to boost the capabilities of the small…

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Russian drones enter the Moldovan airspace

Several Russian drones entered the Moldovan airspace on the night of 12-13 February during a large-scale Russian attack on Ukraine, one of which exploded. The Moldovan border police reported that…

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Moldova PM warns of security crisis

Moldova faces a security crisis after tens of thousands of residents in the breakaway enclave of Transdniestria were cut off from Russian gas supply, Prime Minister Dorin Recean said on…

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Moldova says two Russian ‘decoy’ drones crashed on its territory

Moldova said two Russian "decoy" drones that are used to mislead Ukrainian air defences during attacks violated Moldovan airspace and crashed deep inside its territory on Sunday, endangering the population.…

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Kremlin says Moldovan election was unfair, questions Sandu’s legitimacy

Russia on Tuesday denounced Moldova's weekend election as unfair and said it did not see the winner, Maia Sandu, as the legitimate president of the country. Pro-Western Sandu defeated a…

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Moldova’s pro-Western Sandu claims election win

Moldova's pro-Western incumbent Maia Sandu claimed victory at Sunday's closely-fought presidential election, defeating Alexandr Stoianoglo, her rival backed by the traditionally pro-Russian Socialist Party. With 98% of the ballots counted,…

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Moldova’s presidential run-off: who are the two candidates?

Moldova holds the second round of its presidential election on Sunday, pitting the incumbent, pro-Western President Maia Sandu, against former prosecutor general Alexandr Stoianoglo. Sandu won 42.49% in the first…

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Zelenskiy says Russia won in Georgia and is on way to winning in Moldova

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said the West should admit Russia has "won" in Georgia and is on its way to doing the same in Moldova unless Western rhetoric against crossing…

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The EU and Moldova share a common future, says EU chief diplomat

The European Union remains committed to continue supporting Moldova's democratic development, reforms and economic growth as well as strengthening its resilience on its path towards the EU, the bloc's foreign…

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Moldova’s Sandu secures knife-edge EU vote win after ‘unfair fight’

President Maia Sandu said Moldovans had won a "first battle in a difficult fight" for their future, a day after a slim majority of 50.46% backed EU accession in a…

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UPDATED: Moldova’s Sandu decries vote meddling after slim majority backs EU accession

A slim majority of 50.39% voted "yes" in Moldova's crunch referendum on European Union accession, preliminary results showed, after President Maia Sandu said that Sunday's twin votes had been marred…

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What to know about Moldova’s election and crucial vote on EU future

Moldova's pro-Western president, Maia Sandu, is seeking a second term in a presidential election on Oct. 20, when the country will also hold a referendum on joining the European Union.…

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Moldova votes on European future in shadow of alleged Russian meddling

Moldova's citizens vote on Sunday in a presidential election and an EU referendum that come at a pivotal moment in the tussle between Russia and the West for the future…

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Moldovan president’s no-show breaks up election debate

A television debate ahead of Moldova's presidential election broke up on Tuesday when pro-European incumbent Maia Sandu did not attend and one of her two main rivals walked out of…

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Eleven candidates, including incumbent, to compete in Moldova presidential vote

A record 11 candidates have been approved for Moldova's presidential poll next month, electoral officials said on Tuesday, including incumbent Maia Sandu, who portrays the contest as a test of…

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Germany says Moldova could be next in line if Ukraine falls

Support for Ukraine guarantees the survival of neighbouring Moldova, German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock said on Tuesday at a conference to address concerns about broadening Russian interference in the region.…

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Moldovan soldier killed in rare Transdniestria border incident

A Moldovan serviceman serving on the line demarcating the separatist Transdniestria region was killed on Thursday in unclear circumstances in a rare incident more than 30 years after a war…

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Moldova expels Russian diplomat, summons envoy to protest over treason case

Moldova said on Thursday it had expelled a Russian diplomat and called in Russia's ambassador to issue a formal protest, after detaining two Moldovan officials on treason and conspiracy allegations…

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EU membership talks start with Ukraine, Moldova; progress for Montenegro

War-torn Ukraine and neighbouring Moldova are now officially in accession talks with the European Union. Both countries were granted EU candidate status in 2022. The landmark move has been hailed…

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Sandu says Moldova’s future within European family

Moldova's President Maia Sandu welcomed the start of formal talks to join the EU, stressing that her country's future is within the European family. Moldova applied for EU membership along…

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EU agrees on start of accession talks with Ukraine, Moldova

European Union ambassadors agreed to formally to start accession negotiations with Ukraine and Moldova, the Belgian EU presidency said, adding this would take place at intergovernmental conferences on June 25.…

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US, Britain, Canada accuse Russia of plot to sway Moldova election

The United States, Britain and Canada accused Russia of carrying out a plot to sway the outcome of the Moldovan presidential election in October and incite protests if a pro-Moscow…

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Moldovan police stage raids to uncover plot aimed at blocking Interpol

Police in Moldova, aided by French and U.S. colleagues, raided dozens of premises as part of an investigation into an alleged plot to block the actions of Interpol against fugitive…

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Twelve Moldovan parties clinch pro-Europe pact, but not all back president

Twelve parties in Moldova clinched a pact committing them to act in favour of European Union membership for the ex-Soviet state as the campaign for an October referendum on European…

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Russia, Moldova’s opposition denounce Romanian PM’s remarks

Russia joined Moldova's leftist opposition in denouncing Romania's prime minister for remarks saying ex-Soviet Moldova's population was made up strictly of Romanians who spoke Romanian. Romanian Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu…

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Moldova signs security and defense pact with EU

Moldova signed a security and defense partnership with the European Union on Tuesday — the first non-EU country to form such an agreement. The partnership will "enhance the country's resilience”…

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Fragments of presumed Russian drone found in Moldova

Border police in ex-Soviet Moldova said they had found and cordoned off what appeared to be fragments of an Iranian-made Russian drone just inside the country's border with Ukraine. A…

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Moldovan Parliament backs bid to join EU

By Alexander Tanas Moldova's Parliament on Thursday endorsed an appeal to press on with a drive to join the European Union, but the opposition walked out of the vote and…

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Moldova says Russia illegally printed ballots for election in separatist region

By Alexander Tanas CHISINAU, (Reuters) - A senior official in ex-Soviet Moldova said Moscow was breaking laws by printing ballot papers in the separatist region of Transdniestria ahead of this…

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France and Moldova to sign defence and economic accords on Thursday

PARIS, March 6 (Reuters) - Moldova and France will sign defence and economic cooperation accords during a visit by Moldovan President Maia Sandu to Paris on Thursday, the French presidency…

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Moldova spy chief warns on new destabilisation attempts by Russia

Moldova's spy chief said on Tuesday that Russia was planning fresh attempts to meddle in the country's internal affairs by provoking protests, interfering in upcoming presidential elections, and disrupting plans…

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Moldova says Russia has no right to lecture on democracy

By Alexander Tanas CHISINAU, (Reuters) - Russia has no right to lecture on democracy, the Moldovan Foreign Ministry said in a statement, as tensions between the two countries have risen…

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US closely watching Moldovan breakaway region after request for Russian help

The United States is closely watching the situation in the breakaway Moldovan region of Transnistria after the unrecognized statelet asked Russia for help, State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller said. “Given…

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Moldova police find Russian drone fragments near Ukraine border

CHISINAU (Reuters) - Police on Sunday found fragments of a Russian drone alongside the Moldova border with Ukraine, prompting pro-European President Maia Sandu to renew her support for Kyiv in…

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Separatists say Moldova wants to use Ukrainian soldiers to plan attacks

By Alexander Tanas Moldova's pro-Russian separatist Transdniestria region accused central authorities in the ex-Soviet state of training Ukrainian soldiers to launch attacks on the rebel area's institutions and leaders. Moldova's…

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Moldova’s president says Putin must be stopped

By Alexander Tanas CHISINAU, (Reuters) - Russian President Vladimir Putin must be stopped in his war against Ukraine or all of Europe will pay a much higher price, Moldova's pro-European…

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Moldova’s pro-European president Sandu to seek second term

CHISINAU, Dec 24 (Reuters) - Moldova's pro-European President Maia Sandu said on Sunday she intends to run for a second presidential term in late 2024 to bring the issue of…

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Moldovan parliament dismisses central bank chief over $1 billion fraud scandal

By Alexander Tanas CHISINAU, (Reuters) - Moldova's parliament dismissed central bank chief Octavian Armasu on Thursday for failing to act over Moldova's "theft of the century" fraud scandal in which…

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Moldova obtains air defence radar from France’s Thales

Moldova revealed it had acquired an aerial surveillance system from French defence electronics maker Thales, a first step towards developing air defences after missile debris from the war in Ukraine…

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No let up in tensions between Moldova and Russia

Pro-European authorities in Moldova dismissed as groundless a ban imposed by Russia on imports of its fruit and vegetables, the latest display of deteriorating relations between Moscow and the ex-Soviet…

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