U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken met with Moldovan Prime Minister Natalia Gavrilita July 19 to discuss foreign relations between the two nations, as well as plans for additional funding from the U.S. government and Congress.
The discussion centered on how the United States would continue to support Moldova's democratic reform plan, the country's energy security and its humanitarian response to the Russia-Ukraine war, according to a State Department news release.
“Good discussion with Prime Minister @natgavrilita today on helping Moldova address the humanitarian and economic impacts of Russia’s war against Ukraine,” Blinken said in a July 19 post on Twitter. “The United States will continue to support Moldova’s sovereignty, territorial integrity and democratic reform agenda.”
Moldova has felt the economic strain of the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. The Balkan country is dependent on Russian supplies, with costs increasing since the Russian invasion in February, ABC News reported July 15. Moldova has taken in more than 500,000 refugees since then.
The U.S. committed almost $75 million in humanitarian assistance, State Department spokesperson Ned Price said in the news release. Moldova has received almost $124 million in economic and security assistance from the U.S. The funding is to help mitigate the economic impact the war is having on Moldova.
Blinken and Gavrilita also discussed new funding from the U.S. government and Congress, which was first announced July 15 at the Moldova Support Platform in Bucharest, Price said in the release. The U.S. government is working with Congress to secure an additional $64.5 million to support Moldova.
Blinken congratulated Moldova for securing EU candidate status. The nation was granted candidacy status in June, along with Ukraine. The countries applied for EU candidacy due to Russia's invasion of Ukraine, with Moldova applying on March 3, according to a European Parliament release.
