Support for Ukraine guarantees the survival of neighboring Moldova, German Foreign Minister Analena Burbock said today at a conference to address concerns about expanding Russian interference in the region.

“Everything we do to support Ukraine also means that it promotes stabilization with regard to Moldova”Burbock said. “It’s clear that people’s biggest concern here is: that if Ukraine falls, Moldova is the next country in line.”

Burbok was visiting Chisinau for the Partnership Platform with Moldova, together with her partners from France, Romania, Poland, the Netherlands and Lithuania.

Germany, one of Kiev’s main military backers in Europe, launched the platform after Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022, saying it was part of its broader efforts to stabilize Moldova’s economy and protect it from Russian disinformation.

Moldovan President Maya Sandu, who has accused Russia of trying to topple her government, said Moldova continued to face serious challenges and called on partners to increase their support.

“The Russian war against Ukraine, which we have condemned from day one, has caused enormous damage to our economy,” Sandou said.

“The uncertainty caused by the war continues to seriously hamper our economic growth and will continue to hamper it as long as the war lasts,” she added.

Within the framework of the platform, agreements were signed to provide Moldova with more than 300 million euros in loans and 80 million euros in grants, according to the government’s press service.

Allies also welcomed Moldova’s efforts to join the European Union. Under Sandu, Moldova, which sits between Ukraine and Romania — a member of NATO and the EU — hopes to join the European bloc by 2030.