The leaders of France, Germany and Poland all expressed their support for Moldova's EU bid on Wednesday, August 27, slamming Russian "lies" and "hybrid attacks" during a symbolic visit to the former Soviet republic bordering Ukraine. The visit comes a day before campaigning starts for next month's tense parliamentary election amid claims of Russian interference in the pro-EU nation, Le Monde reports.
French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk met Moldova's President Maia Sandu to celebrate the country's 34th independence day as she pushes for EU membership.
"The Kremlin's propaganda tells us that Europeans want to prolong the war and that the European Union oppresses people. These are lies. Unlike Russia, the European Union threatens no one and respects everyone's sovereignty," Macron told reporters alongside Merz, Tusk and Sandu, expressing France's "determined support" to Moldova and its EU bid.
Merz said the "door to the European Union is open," adding the country would be "wholeheartedly welcome in the European Union" and that Berlin would "do all we can to open the first chapter of negotiations in the autumn." "Ahead of the parliamentary election here, not a day goes by without massive Russian hybrid attacks," he said, adding Moldova's "democracy is in the crosshairs, online and offline."
