The President of the Republic of Moldova, Maia Sandu, delivered a speech in the plenary session of the Parliament of the Republic of Lithuania on the occasion of the 36th anniversary of the restoration of Lithuania’s independence — the first state to break free from Soviet occupation. On this occasion, President Sandu presented a copy of the resolution adopted by the Moldovan legislature on 31 May 1990, recognizing Lithuania’s restored independence. Moldova was the first country in the world to take this step, even though it was still part of the Soviet Union at the time. “It was our own small act of courage. A gesture of solidarity made before we ourselves were free. And today, 36 years later, I stand before you to say: the spirit of that gesture endures,” TRIBUNA reports.

President Sandu emphasized that the solidarity between the two countries stems from a shared historical memory. The 1939 Molotov–Ribbentrop Pact sealed the fate of both Lithuania and Moldova: “We simply woke up inside an empire we had never chosen.” Both states experienced occupation, deportations, and the suppression of national identity. In this context, the head of state reiterated that cultivating historical memory — in schools, in public institutions, and in the way we speak about our past — is a form of resilience and national defense.

Referring to Russia’s full‑scale invasion of Ukraine, now in its fifth year, President Sandu delivered a firm message: Russia is not winning. “Behind triumphant headlines and territorial claims lies a system under enormous pressure.” Ukraine, she stressed, is not only surviving but innovating, redefining the nature of modern warfare. “Ukraine’s survival goes hand in hand with our own,” Maia Sandu declared.

The President also spoke about the hybrid war that Russia has been waging against Moldova for years: financing opposition parties, using energy as a weapon, disinformation campaigns, and attempts to buy votes. Despite this, Moldovan citizens have chosen Europe — through a constitutional referendum, through presidential and parliamentary elections won despite unprecedented pressure. “Moldova will be safer inside the European Union. And the EU will be stronger with Moldova inside it. In such an unstable world, leaving democratic nations in grey zones is a risk Europe cannot afford.”

President Sandu concluded with an appeal for support addressed to Lithuanian lawmakers. “We are not asking for more than the chance you once had. We are not asking for more than the support you received,” she said, adding that Moldova is modernizing despite a war at its border and ongoing hybrid attacks, working against the clock.

Maia Sandu thanked Lithuania for its consistent support for Moldova and Ukraine and urged Vilnius to continue advocating in Brussels, in the European Council, and in all relevant forums for the enlargement of the European Union to those who have truly earned their place in the European family. “Lithuania has been one of Moldova’s strongest supporters. We feel it. We are grateful.”

Lithuania will assume the rotating Presidency of the Council of the European Union on 1 January 2027.