The country is struggling to cope with a flood of refugees from Ukraine while also watching closely Russia’s growing war with its neighbor.
Blinken met with top officials from Moldova who asked for international assistance to deal with the more than 120,000 Ukrainian refugees it is currently hosting. They also sought security assurances against Russian aggression.
Since the conflict began 11 days ago, more than 230,000 people fled to or have passed through Moldova. Blinken stated that Moldova’s acceptance of refugees is an example to the rest of the world.
Before he left for Lithuania, he stated that he admires the kindness of people and the willingness to be so kind to those in distress.
Russia has troops in Moldova (a country with 2.6 million people) and they are being closely monitored as Russian President Vladimir Putin pushes for the invasion of Ukraine.
Maia Sandu, the Moldovan President, stated that “This is an area of high vulnerability” and would continue to monitor it closely. While she said that there was no indication that any of the 1,500 Russian soldiers stationed in Transnistria have changed their posture, she stressed that this was an issue given what’s happening in Ukraine.
Sandu stated, “In this area now there is no chance for us to feel secure.”
Moldova, which is neutral militarily and does not plan to seek membership in NATO, applied for the European Union’s membership just three days ago. This was in an expedited bid to strengthen its ties to the West.
Prime Minister Natalia Gavrilita stated that “even though we are facing these unprecedented circumstances, it is important to remain steadfastly committed to our path towards European integration.” “We believe this is an agenda that will transform Moldova into a modern and prosperous European state, based on the fundamental principles of human rights.
Blinken spoke highly of Moldova’s European ambitions and suggested that Moldova could count on U.S. assistance.
He stated that Moldova has chosen to follow the path of democracy, an inclusive economy, closer relations with Europe’s countries and institutions, and that the United States supports Moldova in these efforts, which are grounded in our respect for the constitutional neutrality.
Blinken stated that Moldova was a strong example of a democracy rising up to the moment with vision, and with determination.
According to the U.S. State Department, Blinken will meet with Israel’s foreign minister, Yair Lepid, in Riga (Latvia) on Monday as part of the American’s Baltic tour. Naftali Bennett (Israel’s prime minister) was in Moscow Saturday to meet with Putin about the conflict in Ukraine. He also spoke with Putin via phone on Sunday. Bennett has also spoken by phone with Ukraine’s president Volodymyr Zelenskyy several times, most recently on Sunday morning
Blinken will be meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron in Paris Tuesday evening.
