Ukraine and Moldova agreed on strategic partnership

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The leaders of Moldova and Ukraine have called for a reboot of relations, which were largely frozen during the tenure of pro-Russian politician Igor Dodon as Moldovan President. The new President of Moldova Maia Sandu, visiting Kiev on January 12, announced the renewal of friendly contacts with Ukraine. The trip was her first official overseas visit since taking office last December. I would like to confirm that Ukraine is a strategic partner of Moldova and that the development of sustainable and pragmatic cooperation with Ukraine is a priority for Chisinau. I am pleased to announce that today we have agreed to take our relations to a different level, the level of strategic partnership, said Maya Sandu after talks with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy. She added that the two countries have decided to establish a presidential-level council to promote ties. Zelensky, in turn, said that at a meeting with Sandu, they talked about their countries' membership in the European Union as a common strategic goal. On this issue, our approaches completely coincide, Zelensky stressed. He also said that Kiev's position on Transnistria has not changed. We firmly support the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Moldova within its internationally recognized borders, the Ukrainian president said During the election campaign, Maia Sandu refrained from direct criticism of Russia and continues to declare that she advocates good relations with Moscow, but not to the detriment of Moldova's cooperation with the EU. She speaks out for a peaceful settlement of the Transnistrian conflict and for the withdrawal of Russian troops from the region that Chisinau does not control. The so-called Pridnestrovian Moldavian Republic is one of several self-proclaimed republics that arose on the territory of the former USSR in the early 1990s. The administration in Tiraspol enjoys Russian support, but the independence of Transnistria has not been recognized by Moscow.