Sandu demands air defence boost to shield Moldovan sky
Moldovan President Maia Sandu called for the urgent reinforcement of Ukraine’s air defence shield during a summit of Coalition of the Willing leaders held in Kyiv on 24 August. Sandu stressed that strengthening Ukrainian air protection directly safeguards the airspace and citizens of the Republic of Moldova.
Protecting regional airspace
Moldova has recorded nearly 60 airspace violations since 2022, with incursions increasing sharply this year. Sandu noted that every drone intercepted over Ukraine eliminates an immediate threat to Moldovan border communities.
The Moldovan head of state attended official commemorations marking the 35th anniversary of Ukraine’s declaration of independence alongside President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Sandu commended the resilience of the Ukrainian people, praising the continued dedication of soldiers, engineers, rescue personnel, healthcare workers, and educators under continuous bombardment.
Exchange of top state honours
During the official ceremonies, President Zelenskyy decorated President Sandu with the Order of Princess Olga, First Class, one of Ukraine’s highest state honours. The order, established in 1997, recognizes outstanding contributions to public life and statecraft.
President Sandu reciprocated by conferring Moldova’s highest distinction, the Order of the Republic, upon President Zelenskyy. The award recognizes his exceptional leadership in defending peace and freedom across the European continent.
Expanding European defence cooperation
International leaders attending the Kyiv summit included UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham, Luxembourg Prime Minister Luc Frieden, and Estonian President Alar Karis. The visit marked Burnham’s first official foreign trip since taking office.
During the meetings, the United Kingdom confirmed that European defence group MBDA will license the production of SCALP long-range cruise missiles directly to Ukraine. France and Ukraine plan to establish dedicated domestic assembly lines to accelerate domestic missile manufacturing.
Translation by Iurie Tataru
