Moldova’s Ambassador to the U.S. Vlad Kulminski has presented his credentials to President Donald Trump ahead of elections where Russia has reportedly stepped up disinformation efforts to shift the country into Moscow’s orbit.
Ahead of the Sept. 28 election, two American bipartisan senators urged Meta and Alphabet, the parent companies of social media giants Facebook, Instagram and Google, to prevent Russian influence operations on his social media platforms related to the parliamentary ballot.
The bipartisan letter highlighted Russia’s continued threat and evolving tactics in working to sway the outcome of foreign elections, particularly in democratic, former Soviet states, as Moscow continues its war against Ukraine, the Hill reported.
The move comes as Moldovan publication Ziarul de Garda published an investigation into a Russian interference campaign ahead of the vote.
“We are not here a club of enthusiasts who have gathered and are playing on the Internet. We have a clear mission and we must fulfill these tasks… at the initial stage, people should not even realize what we are doing,” one agent told the publication.
Universul.net’s Laurentiu Mihu wrote: “A success by the pro-Russian party in the upcoming legislative elections has the potential to ensure that the Kremlin achieves its goals, thereby resetting the political landscape in the Republic of Moldova and diverting the pro-Western path desired by the majority of Moldovans, and putting the Russian harness back on the state apparatus, starting with the parliament, continuing with the government, and finally reaching the presidency. ”
Mr. Kulminski passed on a message to the US leader from President Maia Sandu saying he was honored to represent the country which lies between NATO member and Ukraine in the Washington.
President Sandu “underscored our country’s commitment to peacekeeping, as a vital national interest, and expressed gratitude to President Trump – whom she described as the only person capable of stopping the war – for his consistent efforts to bring peace to the region,” the statement said.
The US president stressed his administration’s commitment to achieving lasting peace in the region, saying that stopping the war in Ukraine remains a priority. He ended several long-standing conflicts during his previous term and said he would contribute to the war’s end.
“The president also stressed that a peaceful Moldova is essential for regional security,” the statement said.
Trump also promised to work with Moldovan authorities to achieve secure borders, combat transnational crime and promote prosperity.
He said there were opportunities for cooperation in the context of Moldova’s progress on energy independence and reaffirmed the United States’ interest in expanding bilateral trade relations.
Kulminski is an expert with over 20 years of experience in public policy and administration, specializing in foreign policy and conflict resolution. He served as Deputy Prime Minister for Reintegration and worked in international organizations such as the UN, UNDP, the World Bank and GIZ. He has also been a negotiator in various regions, including Ukraine, Belarus, Turkey and Eurasia, and has contributed to the Black Sea Grain Initiative.
