The Prime Minister of Moldova, Natalia Gavrilitatoday called on the United States to provide more humanitarian assistance to its country in order to be able to receive Ukrainian refugees fleeing to escape the Russian invasion.
120,000 Ukrainians have already arrived in Moldova, a country of 2.6 million people and one of the poorest in Europe, Gabrielita told US Secretary of State Anthony Blinkenwho is visiting the country.
“According to the most recent count, more than 230,000 people from Ukraine have crossed the border (of Moldova) since the beginning of the war and 120.00, of which almost 100,000 Ukrainians, have remained in Moldova. “For a small country like us, proportionally, the number is very large,” said the Moldovan prime minister.
“Everyone participates to welcome them, to find them accommodation, to give them food or to help them. “But we need help to deal with this huge influx and we need it immediately.”
Chisinau is the third stop on Blinken’s tour of Europe with the aim of reaffirming the support of various countries against Russia.
The US Secretary of State assured Gabrielita that he could “rely on our full support”.
“We admire the generosity, hospitality and goodwill that people show to those in need. “And we want to do everything we can to help you meet that challenge.”
From Poland on Saturday, Blinken announced that the White House had asked Congress to vote in favor of $ 2.75 billion (€ 2.5 billion) in humanitarian aid to support people fleeing Ukraine and host countries.
About 827,000 people from Ukraine have sought refuge in Poland since the Russian invasion began on February 24. Other neighboring countries of Ukraine, such as Hungary, Moldova, Romania and Slovakia, have also received many refugees.
The war revived Moldova’s hopes of joining the European Union. The government formally applied for EU membership on Thursday, at the same time as Georgia, another former Soviet republic.
Earlier this week, President-elect Maya Santou, who was elected in 2020 with a pro-Western program, told EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell that her country was facing “very serious” security risks.
Blinken’s visit is also aimed at reassuring Moldova, where there is also a pro-Russian separatist movement in Transnistria, on Ukraine’s western border. An estimated 1,500 Russian troops are stationed in the area.
Some analysts have suggested that the area could be turned into a rear base for the Russian military in the midst of its offensive in Ukraine.
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