Zelensky urges EU to keep Moldova’s accession tied to Ukraine’s path

In a plea to European leaders, President Volodymyr Zelensky argued that Moldova’s EU accession should stay linked to Ukraine’s, describing a split as morally unacceptable. He emphasized that Kyiv is allocating security and intelligence assets to shield Moldova from Russian interference via the occupied Transnistria region, even pulling troops from other duties. While senior EU officials acknowledge Moldova’s swift alignment with EU law, the European Council’s recent conclusions suggested a merit-based, separate evaluation for each candidate.

Zelensky warned that separating the bids could stall Moldova’s progress for years as Ukraine continues its reform challenges. Both countries still need to complete the final two enlargement clusters, a goal expected before the end of the year. The proposal reflects ongoing debates over how the EU will manage its eastern enlargement amid geopolitical tensions.