The US remains Moldova's largest donor, having provided Moldova with more than $774 million in new aid after Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
This is stated in a joint statement on the Strategic Dialog between Moldova and the US, published by the US Department of State. As noted, this assistance was provided in the economic, security, defense and humanitarian fields to help Moldova cope with the consequences of the war in Ukraine, while maintaining progress in the democratic and anti-corruption reform agenda, promoting defense and security modernization, as well as promoting economic growth. Helping Moldova build resilience to malign influence is also vital, it emphasized. The US expressed gratitude to Moldova for continuing to accept and protect refugees from Ukraine, as well as for accepting temporary protection status, which allows refugees to access social programs and legal protection. As noted, more than 1 million refugees have passed through Moldova since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, with 116,000 of them remaining in our country. The US has provided nearly $118 million in humanitarian assistance to international partners working in Moldova to support both refugees and Moldovan communities hosting them. The US expressed appreciation to Moldova for supporting the transit of Ukrainian cargoes and praised its leadership in the Danube Five to facilitate the flow of Ukrainian grain to world markets following Russia's withdrawal from the Black Sea Grain Initiative in July 2023. Republic of Moldova and US representatives reaffirmed their unwavering commitment to contribute to Ukraine's recovery and discussed opportunities for further cooperation. The US welcomed the December 2023 European Council decision to begin accession negotiations with Moldova and recognized Moldova's progress in advancing necessary reforms on its path to the EU. The US said it supports Moldova's integration into the EU and the continued implementation of the ambitious reform program needed to move toward this goal for the benefit of the Moldovan people. The two countries discussed Moldova's management of the economic, energy, defense and humanitarian consequences of the war in Ukraine. It was noted that for more than 30 years, the US and Moldova have built a strategic bilateral partnership. Faced with the threats posed by Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine, this partnership has only strengthened. During the Strategic Dialogue, both sides highlighted progress made since the last Strategic Dialogue in Chisinau in March 2023 in advancing bilateral priorities, including defense and security cooperation; Moldova's progress toward EU integration and its reform agenda, including justice sector reforms and anti-corruption policies; economic and energy security; and strengthening people-to-people ties. The US said it supports Moldova in its long-term efforts for democratic and economic reforms, as well as the country's sovereignty and territorial integrity within its internationally recognized borders. According to the document, Moldova and the US also discussed programs that help Moldova develop its national resilience and build capacity to defend its territory, protect its constitutional neutrality, and effectively manage and respond to crisis situations. Since Russia's invasion of Ukraine, Moldova has received nearly $75 million in foreign military funding to strengthen its defense capabilities. // 26.04.2024 - InfoMarket.
