German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has said the war in Ukraine should end “as soon as possible”, but not “at any price”, ruling out a settlement based on Ukraine’s capitulation.
He spoke in Chișinău on 27 August alongside France’s President Emmanuel Macron, Poland’s Prime Minister Donald Tusk and Moldova’s President Maia Sandu, during a joint visit to mark Moldova’s Independence Day.
The three EU leaders travelled to Moldova to signal backing for the country’s efforts to join the European Union and to underline support ahead of parliamentary elections scheduled for 28 September. Sandu has warned of the risk of external interference, including alleged Russian financing and disinformation. The visiting leaders pledged continued political and practical support for Moldova’s reforms and energy security.
Merz’s remarks on Ukraine were framed as part of a wider European position in favour of a “just peace”. In recent weeks, voices in the United States have pressed for a swift end to the war, with President Donald Trump stating that Kyiv should “make a deal”. Kyiv has repeatedly rejected any settlement involving territorial concessions.
Macron, Merz and Tusk appeared with Sandu at the Moldovan presidency and attended public events marking the country’s 34th year of independence from the Soviet Union. Their presence was intended to demonstrate unity among key EU capitals over Moldova’s European course and to deter destabilisation.
The political context in Chișinău is sensitive. Opinion polling indicates a competitive race between Sandu’s Party of Action and Solidarity and opposition blocs that favour closer ties with Moscow. Reuters reported that European officials have increased support for Moldova’s institutions amid concerns over hybrid threats.
Moldova’s security environment is shaped by the unresolved Transnistria issue. Russian troops have remained in the breakaway region since the early 1990s, formally guarding the Cobasna ammunition depot and participating in a tripartite mechanism along the security zone. Moldovan authorities regard the Russian military presence as illegitimate and have repeatedly called for withdrawal.
For Kyiv, developments in Moldova carry strategic significance. Ukraine shares a long border with Moldova, including with the Transnistrian segment. Any political realignment in Chișinău that limited cooperation with Kyiv—on border, customs or security matters—would complicate Ukraine’s defence and logistics at a time of continued Russian military pressure. Merz’s statement in Chișinău linked the pursuit of a rapid end to the war with the requirement that Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity not be compromised.
The joint visit also had an EU-policy dimension. Since applying for membership in 2022, Moldova has advanced legal and institutional changes required for accession talks. EU missions have been active in supporting resilience, including against cyber and hybrid threats. European media covering the Chișinău visit underscored the EU’s intention to maintain momentum on enlargement in Europe’s east, subject to reforms and political conditions in candidate states.
Merz’s remarks can be read as an articulation of a common European line: negotiations to end the war are desirable and should happen as soon as conditions allow, but not on terms that would reward aggression. This position contrasts with calls for an immediate settlement at the price of territorial concessions; it also mirrors repeated statements by Ukrainian leaders that the country will not barter internationally recognised territory.
For Moldova, the optics of three leading EU figures in the capital on Independence Day were significant in the run-up to the September poll. The attention may act as a deterrent to interference and as a signal to voters that progress towards the EU remains a realistic path, supported by major member states. At the joint appearance in Chișinău, the leaders reiterated their support for Moldova’s sovereignty and for a European trajectory anchored in reforms and rule of law.
With the war in Ukraine now well into its fourth year, the message from Chișinău fits a broader pattern in European diplomacy: emphasising rapid, sustainable peace alongside commitments to Ukraine’s defence, and reinforcing the stability of neighbouring states exposed to pressure. The coming weeks in Moldova will test whether that diplomatic signalling translates into resilience at the ballot box and continuity in the country’s foreign policy orientation.
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