Moldova Hosts a Summit With the EU, While Shor Calls for Russian Annexation in Moscow
Weekly Roundup: July 11, 2025
First EU-Moldova Summit
On Friday July 4th Moldova hosted the first bilateral summit with the European Union. At the meeting, President Maia Sandu, Prime Minister Dorin Recean and Speaker of Parliament Igor Grosu met with President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen and President of the European Council Antonio Costa. The primary outcome of the summit was symbolic, a major show of support by top EU leaders for Moldova’s future inside the Union. This was highlighted in the joint declaration which started:
"Today’s Summit marks a significant milestone in the deepening of Moldova–EU relations and reaffirms our shared commitment to peace, security, stability, and prosperity across Europe"
The declaration went on to condemn Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine and express support for Moldova’s "sovereignty, stability, resilience, and economic development."
In addition to the symbolism of the event, the declaration also produced some concrete announcements about the EU’s support for Moldova, deepening integration with the bloc and next steps. What was not announced was the opening of any negotiating clusters - though the EU side did say that they “look forward” to opening the fundamental clusters “when conditions are met.” Unstated here is that the condition being waited for is primarily Hungary lifting its block on opening negotiations with Ukraine.
The EU announced the allocation of the first €270 million euros of the €1.9 billion euro “Moldova Growth Plan.” They additionally announced that all roaming fees for calls, SMS and data would be eliminated for Moldovan customers traveling in the EU on January 1, 2026. The document also set out various medium and long term commitments, such as implementing AI tools to help Moldova in the legislative alignment process and working together to integrate Moldova into the European Rail Area - including standardizing rail gauges1.
Moldova’s former Foreign Minister Nicu Popescu called the summit historic and stated:
"A strong message resonates from the heart of Europe: Moldova matters. Moldova is awaited in the European Union"
Emphasis mine.
Shor’s Parties Call for Union With Russia
On Sunday, July 6th, Ilan Shor’s various political formations in the Pobeda (Victory) Bloc met in Moscow. The unofficial bloc held a party conference where they committed to participating in the September parliamentary elections as a bloc. Ilan Shor announced that the bloc’s policy would be full "union with the Russian Federation" “with the same parliament and the same currency.” In attendance were his top lieutenants Vasile Bolea, Marina Tauber, Alexei Lunga and others. Shor announced that the first person on the party’s list for elections would be Bashkan Evghenia Gutsul. Later, the Bashkan, who did not attend as she is under house arrest pending the conclusion of her trial for illicit party financing, accepted the role with honor.
In his speech Ilan Shor threatened Prime Minister Recean and Chief of Police, Viorel Cernăuțeanu by name, along with an unnamed list he claimed contained the names of prosecutors and judges. He said "None of them will ever live in peace."
Following the event, government spokesman Daniel Vodă responded stating:
"The event organized by the fugitive Shor in Moscow is considered by the Government as treason. The statements there are not simple opinions, but part of an already well-known scenario of undermining the state and citizens of the Republic of Moldova, written according to the propaganda manual of the Russian Federation. (…)
"Our qualification is clear - such an action, and statements, and opinions expressed by the fugitive criminal Shor is nothing more than an act of treason,"
Speaker Grosu responded to questions by stating that Shor’s statements are serious and that talk of treason was not simply words but that state institutions must “do their job (...) In accordance with the provisions of the law regarding treason.”
Ilan Shor responded with more threats saying:
"The Brussels puppets started talking about ‘undermining statehood and treason.’ That's right, they need to get used to their future articles [indictments]. For these crimes, they will rot in prison after the parliamentary elections. (…)
"I will repeat: Moldova can live and develop in union with Russia without losing its sovereignty,"
Author’s Note: This basic position has been clear for those paying attention, but never so clearly spelled out. “Sovereignty” means annexation by Russia, loss of local government, language and freedoms, and the status of a vassal of the new Russian empire. “Losing sovereignty” means joining the European Union as an independent state whose leaders stand equal to the French President and German Chancellor in the European Council and whose people are represented democratically at home and in EU institutions.
In many ways this coming election will be determined by the ability of voters to see through this doublespeak and the Kremlin’s agents spreading it.
EU Expands Sanctions Against Shor’s Network
On July 9th the European Union announced expanded sanctions against individuals and entities whose actions aim to destabilize the Republic of Moldova. This primarily targeted Ilan Shor’s network and the Pobeda Block, including fugitive MP’s Alexandr Nesterovschi and Irina Lozovan,2 Renaissance party leader Natalia Parasca, “Alternative and Salvation Force of Moldova” party leader Alexandru Beshchieru, Pobeda party leader Vadim Grozavu, Chance party leader Alexei Lunga and “Moldova Mare" party leader Victoria Fortuna.
Sanctions also targeted Shor’s company A7. All those targeted by sanctions face travel bans and asset freezes in the EU.
Note: These sanctions are separate and very different from the Schengen ban against Mayor Ion Ceban, Vasile Tarlev and Natalia Morari.
Victoria Fortuna and Alexei Lunga were each in Romania as recently as July 2nd, when they visited the Putna Monastery. This monastery is the location of Stefan Cel Mare’s tomb and they covertly filmed political ads against the backdrop of memorial events marking 521 years since his death.
Victoria Fortuna made videos invoking the great king’s name and calling for the restoration of a “Moldova Mare” (greater Moldova)3. Alexei Lungu also made various Telegram posts from the event. Later, the Monastery put out a press release noting that they received no permission to film, lied about what they were doing and then left4.
A Heavy Week of History
An important backdrop to Ilan Shor’s threats and call for annexation in Moscow lies in history. June 28th was marked in Chisinau as the 85th anniversary of the country’s entry into the second world war. On that date, in 1940, the USSR invaded modern day Moldova as part of the secret protocols to the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact negotiated between Stalin and Hitler. This date has been marked as Soviet Occupation Day in Moldova since 2010.
On July 6th, on the same day that Shor was holding his party conference in Moscow, Moldova marked the Day of Commemoration of the Victims of Stalinist Deportations. This day commemorates the largest of the waves of abductions and deportations during the Stalinist terror. President Sandu marked the event alongside Speaker Grosu, Minister of Culture Sergiu Prodan, church officials and representatives of the deportees and their families. Speaking at the event the President stated:
"The deportees never asked for revenge, but they asked for truth and it is our duty to offer them this truth, through recognition, through education, by keeping memories alive. For decades, these sufferings were hidden, passed over in silence or treated with indifference by those who should have brought them to the attention of society. Especially since, over 7 decades later, we are still dealing with attempts to falsify history, to justify or minimize the crimes of the Soviet regime. (…) We still see today, in Ukraine, crimes against innocent people. Other broken destinies, other people torn from their loved ones, other deported children"
Ilan Shor mocked these events on his Telegram channel, accusing those who commemorated them of “selling the country to the fascists” and saying that Maia Sandu was trying to brainwash people into believing that “Hitler is a liberator.” These statements were roundly condemned by historians, the Association of Former Deportees and Political Detainees of the Republic of Moldova, and basically everyone who is sane.
Trump “Gifts” Moldova 25% Tariffs
As part of Donald Trump’s continued efforts to bewilder the global economy into submission, he sent Moldova a letter announcing that he would be levying a 25% tariff on all Moldovan goods starting August 1st. The American President noted that this is a very low number when considering Moldova’s trade deficit with the United States.
Previously, on “Liberation Day,” Trump had threatened Moldova with 31% Tariffs in what he falsely called a “reciprocal rate.” I wrote about this at the time, and my article was apparently so good that former Minister of Justice and President of the Constitutional Court Alexandru Tănase plagiarized it calling my words his “opinion.”
The important fact here is that the whole endeavor, even on its own ludicrous terms, was based on bad math. The United States does not have a trade deficit with Moldova. I also wrote about this back in April.
The reason that this is so important is that, with all of the math wrong and the whole justification basically made up, Moldova has no way of negotiating with the US.
It remains to be seen what tariff rates will actually go into effect on August first as this is the 3rd “Liberation Day” deadline so far.
Political Updates
Here’s a roundup of the top stories of the week. Today, July 11th is the last day of parliament’s session before elections. This has resulted in a lot of bills and amendments being passed in the last few days, and likely more today which we will cover in next week’s roundup.
EU citizens will have simplified residency in Moldova. Parliament passed a bill in the second reading extending beyond 90 days the right of stay for EU citizens. Now, with a simplified application and an answer in 3 days, citizens of EU countries will be able to receive residency permits for 5 years of stay and will have the right to work as well as the full benefits of residency (school attendance for children, medical care, etc).
Team Russia visits Moscow again. Irina Vlah, Igor Dodon and Vasile Tarlev returned to Moscow for meetings with Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak. They discussed economic and energy issues and claim that Russia is ready to provide Moldova with cheap gas, with the Russian official calling the fact that the current government isn’t buying this gas "inexplicable."
Updates on Schengen bans: Natalia Morari and Vasile Tarlev initially stated that they had not received official confirmation that they were banned from entering the Schengen area. Tarlev called the reporting by ZdG “rumors” while Morari later stated that she had confirmed through “reliable sources” that she is in fact one of the people mentioned. She personally blames President Maia Sandu, claiming that the president is afraid of her reporting5.
Moldova has signed a deal with the European Investment Bank to construct a new hospital in Cahul. The loan of €101 million euros will be used to build a modern regional medical center “built according to European standards” that will serve over 300,000 citizens in the souther region of the country.
Former Minister of Economy Dumitru Alaiba will join the Supervisory Board of the National Bank of Moldova (BNM). His candidacy was approved by parliament and he will begin a 7 year term on the board.
PAS announces new candidates on the party list. Former Foreign Minister Nicu Popescu will run for parliament, as will Olympic Silver Medalist Anastasia Nichita, football (soccer) player Maxim Potârniche, and University Rector Emil Ceban. The actual order of priority of the list has yet to be announced.
The Pro-European Împreună “Together” Bloc is fracturing. The party League of Cities and Communes (LOC) announced that it was leaving the 4 party bloc this week saying that the leaders were primarily “focused on procrastination and backstabbing.” Leaders at LOC claimed that the Bloc had largely given up running in the election and has degenerated into discussion of how they can fold themselves into PAS on good conditions. LOC alleges that PAS offered the 4 party Together Bloc 3 seats on the PAS party list. Speaking of LOC’s departure, fellow Together Bloc leader Dinu Plângău stated "The strong remain, the weak leave." Another bloc leader, Ștefan Gligor accused LOC of being creatures of Plaha and Shor but denied concrete plans to join PAS. A spokesman for PAS replied to this chaotic situation saying:
“We want a list that is as representative as possible and the unity of European forces. We thank those who join this effort to keep Moldova on the right path in the autumn elections”
Parliament approved an anti-corruption court structure in the 2nd reading. The law will create special panels in the Chisinau Court and the Court of Appeals that will hear major corruption cases in an expedited fashion. It will not create a separate court system, but takes into account the recommendations of the Venice Commission and creates a mechanism for faster trials in cases involving government officials or major bribery. The law will enter effect in 1 month.
Western European countries use “Standard gauge” for their railways and rolling stock. Former Soviet states use “Russian gauge” which is slightly wider. This was a deliberate decision made by the Soviets for strategic reasons - basically, to slow down rail communications in the event of a NATO invasion of the Eastern Bloc. Romania is on standard gauge which means that trains coming from Moldova need to change their wheels and axels when they cross the border - this process takes around 3-4 hours and requires specialized equipment, etc. The strategic calculus also goes the other way now - Russia has no trouble supplying its army in Ukraine due to the same rail gauge.
Recall, they fled to escape prison sentences and are assumed to be hiding in Transnistria.
Presumably this would entail uniting the Republic of Moldova with parts that would be annexed from Romania.
Possibly never to return to Romania or the EU.
Somewhat improbable, as Morari lives in the UK with Platon who is fighting extradition to Moldova. She hosts a youtube show there which is unlikely to be affected by the visa ban.
Ilan Shor should be put on a list of international terrorists and Israel should acknowledge this so that he is arrested if he tries to return to his passport country.
I donate to a not for profit that rescues pets from Ukraine and houses them there. Are they safe?