US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken has expressed solidarity with Moldovan President Maya Santo on Sunday as the Eastern European country faces an influx of refugees over Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
More than 230,000 refugees from Ukraine crossed the border into Moldova in a desperate attempt to escape the fighting after the Russian invasion.
Blinken praises Moldova’s response to refugees
Sandou said hundreds of thousands sought refuge, food, transportation and temporary accommodation either in shelters or in the homes of ordinary people.
He said it was a “significant effort for a country with a population of less than 3 million and a fairly humble income”.
In response, Blinken said Moldova deserved “the gratitude of the people for hosting and protecting the Ukrainians.”
The Biden administration has requested $ 2.75 billion (€ 2.5 billion) from Congress in emergency and humanitarian assistance “to help countries like Moldova support refugees and address the humanitarian crisis outside Ukraine.”
The United States supports Moldovan sovereignty
The United States has strongly supported the “sovereignty and territorial integrity of all countries, including the Republic of Moldova,” Blinken said.
The top US diplomat also said that Washington had helped mobilize international support in response to “Russian aggression against Ukraine. Whenever and wherever this aggression may occur, we will do the same.”
Moldova is militarily neutral and does not aspire to join NATO. Sandou has expressed concern that Russia could attack her country in the future.
“There is no way we can feel safe in this area right now,” Sandu said. More than 1,000 Russian troops are stationed in the breakaway Moldovan Transnistrian territory to the east.
The Moldovan president has pledged to make further efforts to help the refugees, but said international financial assistance was needed. Sandu also called for a clear mechanism to help refugees continue to go to third countries.
Blinken is visiting NATO allies and European partners to discuss Russia’s ongoing invasion. The trip started on March 3 and included visits to Belgium and Poland.
In the coming days he will visit Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia.
kb / wd (Reuters, dpa)
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