Chisinau, Moldova, September 29, 2025 (WAL) – The Associated Press (AP) reported Monday that Moldovan citizens granted the country’s pro-Western ruling party a clear parliamentary majority in the weekend elections, defeating pro-Russian groups in a vote widely seen as a difficult choice between East and West.

European leaders today praised the people of Moldova for reaffirming their commitment to a Western path and future EU membership in the face of alleged Russian interference.

Despite Moldova’s small size and population, located between war-torn Ukraine and Romania, a member of the EU and NATO, it holds significant geopolitical importance.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said in a post on her X (formerly Twitter) account earlier: “You have clearly made your choice: Europe. Democracy. Freedom … No attempt to sow fear or division will deter your resolve.”

Moldova, situated between war-ravaged Ukraine and Romania, an EU and NATO member, was a Soviet republic until declaring independence in 1991. In recent years, it has taken a clear course toward the West, turning the country into a geopolitical battleground between Russia and Europe.