Moldova's pro-Brussels President Maia Sandu on Monday, October 21, said her camp "won justly in an unjust struggle" in an EU referendum and first-round presidential elections marked by claims of Russian interference. "We have won the first battle in a difficult fight that will determine the future of our country. We fought fairly and won justly in an unjust struggle," Sandu said in a video posted online, calling on people to vote during the second round of the presidential polls next month.
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk hailed Moldova as a "brave nation" after its voters narrowly approved joining the European Union. "Infuriate Moscow, impress Europe, save her country once again – that's who Maia Sandu is," Tusk wrote on social media.
European Parliament president Roberta Metsola congratulated Moldova: "Well done Republic of Moldova! Thank you for your bravery," Metsola wrote on X, adding in Romanian that Europe is Moldova and Moldova is Europe. "Our future will be written together," she wrote.