Moldova signals alignment with the West: ready to join the “coalition of the willing”

Following a meeting of the National Security Council on 23 March, Moldovan President Maia Sandu declared that her country is prepared to join the “coalition of the willing,” an international initiative aimed at bolstering support for Ukraine.

Although Moldova maintains constitutional neutrality, Sandu emphasized that this step aligns with existing contributions and does not violate the nation’s legal framework. The announcement came in response to comments by French President Emmanuel Macron welcoming Moldova’s potential involvement in efforts to aid Kyiv.

The coalition of the willing is a coalition of 34 countries that have pledged strengthened support for Ukraine against Russian aggression, going further than the support delivered by the Ukraine Defence Contact Group by pledging readiness to be part of a peacekeeping force deployed on Ukrainian territory, either by providing troops or contributing in other ways.

Sandu clarified that Moldova has only expressed its desire to participate so far, with the formal request still pending review by other coalition members. “Moldova has expressed its readiness to participate in this “coalition of the willing.” I would like to remind you that we are already providing support to Ukraine, we are training sappers. And that is exactly what we can do and what we have proposed, if the members of the ‘coalition of the willing’ decide to join our country,” she stated.

She further noted that Moldovan specialists could conduct training and participate in demining operations once the war in Ukraine concludes, underscoring a commitment to practical, non-combat assistance.

Moldova’s evolving support for Ukraine

This move builds on Moldova’s consistent, if understated, backing of Ukraine amid Russia’s full-scale invasion. In early February, the Moldovan government approved humanitarian aid to Ukraine despite its own severe energy challenges triggered by Russian attacks on regional infrastructure. Chisinau has hosted over 100,000 Ukrainian refugees, opened 15 crossing points for humanitarian convoys, and transferred portions of its Soviet-era ammunition stocks to Kyiv. Additionally, Moldova recently advanced its withdrawal from the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), with parliament approving key denunciations in March, marking a definitive break from post-Soviet structures long influenced by Moscow.

Sandu stressed that this involvement does not contradict Moldova’s neutral status, framing it instead as an extension of humanitarian and technical cooperation. The country’s 1,200-kilometer border with Ukraine makes stability in the region a direct national interest. Russian hybrid actions, including attempts to establish a “corridor” toward the breakaway region of Transnistria, have heightened vulnerabilities. By aligning more closely with Western partners, Chisinau signals that it refuses to remain passive in the face of aggression that spills across borders.

Internationally, the move receives warm reception from key partners. Romania, a NATO member sharing deep cultural and linguistic ties with Moldova, has welcomed the development and already trains Moldovan personnel while planning joint Black Sea patrols. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has expressed gratitude for such solidarity. In Washington and Brussels, Moldova’s EU candidacy application from 2022 gains momentum, with coalition participation viewed as a step toward deeper integration. U.S. support has included defense assistance pledges, reinforcing Chisinau’s position.

Plans for gradual reintegration of Transnistria and regional security

Last week the Moldovan government presented a document in Brussels outlining the gradual reintegration of the Transnistrian region. The plan, developed in February, defines the main stages and principles for restoring the country’s unity exclusively by peaceful means.

In particular, Moldova proposes that the Russian-controlled separatists in Transnistria be replaced by a temporary international administration. And only after a certain period of time, power in the region gradually passed to Chisinau. The document does not mention this, but such an idea also allows solving serious problems that Moldova did not know how to approach.

Another important innovation is that for the first time, Chisinau officially declared that Transnistria will not have any status in a unified Moldova – neither special nor ordinary.

According to EUalive’s partner European Pravda, the main flaw of the plan is that it does not offer any ways to de-occupy, i.e. withdraw the Russian military.

The separatist enclave, home to roughly 450,000 people, hosts approximately 1,500 Russian troops and substantial stockpiles of ammunition at sites like Cobasna. Designated as a “frozen conflict” since 1992, the area has seen renewed tensions as the war in Ukraine unfolds.

Hybrid threats from Russia have already manifested in Moldova through power grid sabotage, cyberattacks, and recruitment of saboteurs by FSB-linked groups. Moldovan intelligence has documented such activities, prompting tighter customs controls on suspicious “humanitarian” convoys previously identified as carrying ammunition. In response, Moldova is modernizing its modest armed forces, acquiring systems like Bayraktar TB2 drones from Turkey and Piorun air defense from Poland.

The timing of Sandu’s announcement coincides with fresh energy disruptions. On 23 March the strategic Isaccea–Vulcănești power transmission line – a vital link for electricity imports from Romania into Moldova’s central and southern regions – was disconnected due to Russian attacks on energy infrastructure in southern Ukraine. The National Crisis Management Center and the Ministry of Energy confirmed the outage, with teams from three transmission operators conducting technical assessments. This incident highlights Moldova’s exposure: after synchronizing with the European ENTSO-E network in 2022, the country relies increasingly on Western interconnections, making it susceptible to spillover effects from the conflict.

Risks remain tangible. Escalation around Transnistria could strain resources and endanger lives. Yet Sandu’s government appears resolute: aligning with allies offers greater protection than isolation against a resurgent Russia weakened by heavy losses in Ukraine.

Sources: Newsmaker.md, Nordnews.md, European Pravda, Digi24

Caption: Moldova’s President Maia Sandu arrives for the 7th meeting of the European Political Community (EPC) in Copenhagen, Denmark, 2 October 2025. The summit, bringing together leaders from across the continent, will focus on defense and support for Ukraine, the security situation in Europe, including economic security and migration. EPA/THOMAS TRAASDAHL