On July 4, 2025, top EU officials, including European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and Council President António Costa, are visiting Chisinau, Moldova for a bilateral summit with President Maia Sandu and Prime Minister Dorin Recean.

The summit aims to reaffirm the EU's commitment to Moldova's sovereignty and security amid rising concerns over Russian interference in the upcoming elections.

With elections scheduled for September 28, 2025, the political landscape in Moldova is critical, as the ruling Party of Action and Solidarity (PAS) seeks to maintain support from Brussels.

Moldova's EU membership is contingent on implementing significant reforms across various policy areas, with the EU pledging up to 1.9 billion euros to support these efforts from 2025 to 2027.

Concerns about Russian aggression towards Moldova have intensified since the annexation of Crimea in 2014, particularly in light of Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

Moldovan officials anticipate an escalation of Russian tactics aimed at destabilizing the pro-European government in Chisinau as elections approach.

Russian interference tactics have evolved to include the use of cryptocurrency for funding influence operations, targeting civil society, and exploiting the Orthodox Church to spread pro-Russian sentiment.

Despite significant EU support, public sentiment in Moldova remains divided between pro-European aspirations and ties to Russia, complicating the political landscape.

The ruling PAS party, while currently the strongest in Moldova, faces challenges in maintaining support amid growing political dissatisfaction among voters.

Although PAS performed well in the 2023 local elections, securing over 40% of the vote, the re-election of pro-Russian politician Ion Ceban as mayor of Chisinau highlights the divided political climate.

Political analysts emphasize the symbolic importance of the summit, suggesting it could bolster support for PAS ahead of the elections and enhance the party's credibility with Brussels.

The summit discussions will cover key topics such as EU membership, security, and trade, with a joint statement expected to follow.