Moldova is ready to receive a new wave of Ukrainian refugees if Ukraine faces a severe humanitarian situation this winter.
Moldovan President Maia Sandu made the statement at the Moldova Security Forum in Chișinău, according to NewsMaker.
"Since 2022, more than one million Ukrainians fleeing the war have arrived in Moldova, and around 100,000 have found a home here. If this winter proves as difficult for Ukraine as the world expects, we are ready to welcome as many people as need safety," Sandu said.
Former Prime Minister and Presidential Special Envoy for Development and Resilience Dorin Recean said Moldova is also preparing to provide logistical and energy support to Ukraine while protecting its own energy infrastructure.
According to Recean, the authorities are considering the possibility of another influx of Ukrainian refugees and have experience responding to emergencies.
He also noted that Moldova's and Ukraine's electricity grids are interconnected, meaning Moldova is preparing for potential disruptions to energy infrastructure. However, Moldova cannot independently supply Ukraine with the necessary volumes of electricity. Instead, electricity from Romania could be transmitted to Ukraine through Moldovan territory.
EU representative Dorota Dłouchy-Suliga said the European Union would continue supporting Ukraine's energy system, including by supplying generators to help prevent the worst-case scenario. She noted that the EU has been helping Moldova strengthen its capacity to accommodate Ukrainian refugees since 2022.
However, Dłouchy-Suliga did not specify whether the EU was preparing a separate support plan for Moldova and other countries that could receive a new wave of Ukrainian refugees this winter.
