Moldova’s Potential EU Solo Run Sparks Controversy with Kyiv

A high-stakes diplomatic visit is set to unfold in Chisinau as Romanian Prime Minister Ilie Bolojan arrives on August 23 to discuss Moldova’s European integration with his counterpart, Dorin Recean. The visit comes at a critical juncture, with EU member states reportedly preparing to vote on opening the first ‘negotiating cluster’ for Moldova on September 11, a significant step on its path to membership. This potential progress, however, is shadowed by a growing rift with Ukraine, its partner in the accession process.

Moldovan President Maia Sandu has signaled a major policy shift, stating that Chisinau could pursue EU negotiations independently of Kyiv. “The accession process is a merit-based process. This is written in all the documents, and no one says that two or three countries have to move at the same speed,” Sandu remarked, a departure from her previous stance that Moldova and Ukraine would advance as a ‘single package’. This move is seen by some observers, including sources cited by Politico, as a strategy to provide a powerful electoral boost to Sandu’s pro-European party ahead of crucial elections and to counter Russian efforts to sway the vote towards Moscow.

Kyiv has reacted sharply to the prospect of being decoupled from Moldova’s EU track. Taras Kachka, Ukraine’s Deputy Prime Minister for European Integration, voiced strong opposition to the idea. “Ideas related to opening the first cluster for Moldova alone will absolutely destroy the power of European integration that is needed for Ukraine, for Moldova, and for the EU itself, given the challenges from Russia,” Kachka stated. He argued that separating the two candidates would be a departure from the fundamental approach and undermine the united front needed to advance their shared European ambitions.

The potential split has been largely precipitated by Hungary’s ongoing veto of Ukraine’s progress, which Budapest attributes to concerns over the language and education rights of the Hungarian minority in Ukraine. This blockade has stalled the joint progress of the candidate duo, prompting discussions in Brussels about allowing Moldova to move forward on its own merits to maintain momentum. European Council President António Costa has affirmed that Ukraine’s accession process must advance, but the Hungarian obstacle remains a key challenge for EU decision-makers.

Adding to the complex diplomatic landscape, a now-disputed Bloomberg report claimed that EU officials had asked U.S. President Donald Trump to leverage his influence over Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán to unblock Ukraine’s bid. However, Hungarian Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó vehemently denied the story, calling it “the biggest fake news he has ever seen” and stating unequivocally that “there was no such phone call. It didn’t happen, period.”

Meanwhile, domestic sentiment in Moldova presents a different picture. A recent poll by iData revealed that the majority of citizens (53.2%) believe the country is heading in the wrong direction. The primary concerns are economic: low salaries and pensions (62%), the economy and jobs (54.6%), and corruption (48.4%). The conflict in neighboring Ukraine and the prospect of EU integration ranked significantly lower on the list of public priorities, suggesting a disconnect between the government’s geopolitical focus and the everyday worries of the Moldovan population.