Maia Sandu Labels Russia as Primary Security Threat to Europe for Decades

Moldovan President Maia Sandu declared Russia the most severe and pressing threat to European security for the coming decades during a speech at the Council of Europe's Committee of Ministers in Chisinau. Sandu condemned Russia's aggression against Ukraine, urging continued military and financial support for Kyiv alongside strengthened international accountability mechanisms. She highlighted the adoption of the Extended Partial Agreement establishing a Special Tribunal for the Crime of Aggression against Ukraine, noting Moldova's role as a founding state. Beyond kinetic warfare, Sandu warned of a concurrent 'cognitive war' involving information manipulation and external interference aimed at undermining democratic processes and public trust. She argued that protecting democracies requires adapted strategies against these hybrid threats. Furthermore, Sandu linked EU expansion directly to continental stability, describing it as an act of resistance. The speech underscored Moldova's commitment to a united Europe, reflecting its recent presidency of the Council of Europe's Committee of Ministers, where it prioritized countering foreign interference and holding Russia accountable for war crimes.