Overview

• Visiting Chisinau on Moldova’s Independence Day, the three leaders met President Maia Sandu as part of a coordinated Weimar Triangle show of solidarity.
• Merz said there is “no day without massive hybrid attacks” targeting Moldovan democracy and promised help against disinformation and cyber campaigns.
• Germany and European partners signaled practical backing and declared Moldova “welcome” in the EU, with Merz praising reforms already under way.
• The September 28 parliamentary election will test Moldova’s pro‑EU course, with observers reporting renewed Russian-linked influence efforts including paid protests and alleged vote-buying.
• Transnistria remains a security pressure point, with Russian troops stationed there since the 1990s cited as leverage in Moscow’s broader influence strategy.