President of the Republic of Moldova Maia Sandu participated yesterday in Kyiv in the fifth Ukraine–Southeast Europe Summit, held on the occasion of Ukraine’s Statehood Day. The summit brought together European Union member states from Southeast Europe and candidate countries from the region, TRIBUNA reports.

In her address, the head of state called for greater support for Ukraine—primarily in the form of air defense systems—and for increased pressure on Russia through sanctions aimed at cutting off the sources of funding that sustain the war. The President reiterated that the 1,222-kilometer friendly border between Moldova and Ukraine is a strategic advantage for both countries and for the entire region. In this context, she advocated for the development of cross-border connectivity and energy projects that strengthen the resilience of Southeast Europe.

On the sidelines of the event, the head of state held bilateral meetings with Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenković and Slovenian Prime Minister Janez Janša.

At the conclusion of the meeting, the leaders adopted the Kyiv Declaration, reaffirming their support for Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity and calling for tougher sanctions against Russia’s war economy.

“The future accession to the European Union of the Western Balkans partners, as well as Ukraine and the Republic of Moldova, represents a strategic investment in Europe’s long-term stability, security, and prosperity,” the declaration states.

Alongside Maia Sandu and Volodymyr Zelenskyy, the summit was attended by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, Albanian President Bajram Begaj, Greek President Constantine Tassoulas, Romanian President Nicușor Dan, Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenković, Slovenian Prime Minister Janez Janša, First Deputy Prime Minister of North Macedonia Bekim Sali, Montenegro’s Deputy Prime Minister Filip Ivanović, and Bulgaria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Velislava Petrova-Chamova.