Zelenskiy says Russia seeks to disrupt Ukraine, Moldova and Romania

12/6/2025 6:14

Ukrainian President

Volodymyr Zelenskiy said on Wednesday Russia was determined to

sow chaos in and destroy the south of his country as well as

nearby Moldova and Romania, and called for increased pressure on

Moscow to prevent further military threats.



Zelenskiy, addressing a conference of southeast European

leaders in the Black Sea port of Odesa, said collective efforts

were needed to keep Moscow from causing further disruption.



"The security of Southeastern Europe and the Black Sea is

indivisible ... Today, we are forced to fight not only for our

country, but also for this reality to become the cornerstone of

a new regional policy," Zelenskiy said on Telegram.



"We are here in Odesa, a city that Russia wants to destroy,

as it has destroyed countless other cities. Russian military

plans are aimed at this region, and then at the borders with

Moldova and Romania. We need protection now. But even more, we

need long-term guarantees that this will never happen again."



Odesa, site of three ports, has been a frequent target of

Russian air strikes in three years of war. The city came under a

massive drone attack on Monday that targeted an emergency

medical building, a maternity ward and residential buildings.



Much attention has focused on a possible Russian threat to

Moldova, where pro-European President Maia Sandu has accused

Moscow of trying to destabilise her country and unseat her.



Her Party of Action and Solidarity, which holds a majority

in parliament, faces a general election in September, the

outcome of which could affect the president's ability to press

on with a campaign to join the European Union in 2030.



Ukraine has also started talks on EU membership.



"For three decades, Russia has tried to keep Moldova poor

and unstable in order to take full control of it," Zelenskiy

said. "If Europe loses in Moldova this year, it will embolden

Russia to meddle even more in your countries' affairs, taking

away your resources, your sovereignty, even your history."



Sandu told the conference that Moldova "knows just what

hybrid war is and is prepared to share its experience".



"Moldova is facing one of its most important elections.

Russia wants to see Moldova turn away from Ukraine. More to the

point, it wants to use Moldova against Ukraine and the EU."