Moldovan President Maia Sandu has urged Hungary not to link Moldova’s European integration process to Ukraine’s, making the appeal in an interview with the Hungarian publication Valasz Online.
During her visit to Budapest, Sandu raised the issue of opening the final two negotiating clusters. According to her, the European Commission considers both countries technically ready to move on to this stage.
“We did indeed raise this issue. We want the final two clusters to be opened, and the European Commission believes that both countries are technically ready for this,” the publication quoted Sandu as saying.
She noted that Hungary cooperates with the Ukrainian government on bilateral matters and expressed hope that all EU member states would reach a positive decision on both countries in the coming months.
Asked whether she had received any specific commitment in Budapest, Sandu replied: “No, we did not discuss a timetable, but I hope a positive decision will be made at the last European Council meeting of the year.”
Sandu Wants Moldova’s EU Bid Separated from Ukraine’s
The Moldovan president also made clear that she hopes Chisinau’s and Kyiv’s EU applications can be treated separately.
“We cannot solve Ukraine’s internal problems, just as Ukraine cannot carry out reforms in Moldova. I genuinely want all candidate countries to make faster progress while complying with the established rules. At the same time, I believe that holding back Moldova’s progress does not help Ukraine,” she said.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky had previously urged EU leaders to keep Ukraine’s and Moldova’s accession processes linked. Speaking in Brussels, he described separating the two applications as wrong.
“When Ukraine and Moldova are moving so closely together — and that is wonderful — when we are doing so much to support Moldova and create the conditions it needs, it would simply be wrong to separate us on the road to the EU. I hope that does not happen. It would be morally wrong,” Zelensky said.
His argument for keeping Moldova linked to Ukraine rests on the claim that Kyiv is “protecting Moldova from Russia’s attempts to create problems through Transnistria”.
“This requires serious work on the part of our security services and intelligence agencies. We even have to divert some of our armed forces from other tasks,” Zelensky said, according to the Kyiv Independent.
Why Sandu Rejects Zelensky’s Argument
Asked directly about Zelensky’s remarks, Sandu responded that Moldova has no influence over events in Ukraine.
“Ultimately, we have to deal with our own problems and move forward at the pace we are capable of. […] I am responsible for this country’s progress. And, I repeat, holding Moldova back does not help Ukraine,” she said.
In the interview, Sandu described European integration as a merit-based process. The European Commission’s assessment that both countries are technically ready does not, by itself, lead to the opening of the negotiating clusters. That decision rests with the member states and requires unanimous agreement, including Hungary’s approval.
Budapest has its own bilateral agenda with Kyiv. Sandu explicitly acknowledged that Hungary is working with the Ukrainian government on these issues. Chisinau is asking Hungarian Prime Minister Magyar to treat the two applications separately.
Until Budapest and Kyiv reach an understanding, Moldova remains tied to Ukraine’s accession process. Kyiv is publicly insisting that the two countries should stay together, while Sandu’s response is that Moldova must address its own problems and move forward at its own pace.
For Chisinau, this means that the pace of European integration depends on more than meeting the required conditions. It also hinges on how relations between Budapest and Kyiv develop — and on when the EU Council holds its final meeting of the year.
