IN FOCUS: Ukraine & Moldova Brief

Review of June 2025

Petra Bošková, Anna Gúliková, Vanesa Opšenáková

UKRAINE

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Current State and the Progress of the Russo-Ukrainian Peace Talks

After more than three years, Russia willingly continues with its attacks on Ukrainian infrastructure and its citizens by slowly scaling up its violence. Kremlin-coordinated missile and drone strikes target cities and aim to destroy and hurt not only people of Ukraine, but by a bigger means, the government of Kyiv, President Zelenskyy, and high military representatives. Moscow claims to control more territory than it did a month ago and promises continue in spreading its influence on as much of Ukraine as possible. The intensifying attacks come at the same time as the Russian president speaks of the proceedings in the peace talks.

Vladimir Putin, during his visit to the Belarusian Minsk, admitted that Russian officials are discussing the timing with their Ukrainian opponents of the next meeting during which the terms of the potential ceasefire should be debated. This ceasefire repeatedly requested by Kyiv has so far been effectively rejected by Moscow, and the chances are that it could provide for a somewhat Russian hidden agenda. However, it has become a recurring demand by the Ukrainian representatives and President Zelenskyy that the two leaders should be the ones to meet and discuss their concepts of the peace agreement between the two countries.

Even though, Kremlin’s and Putin’s stances remain stale in this matter, placing the meeting of the two presidents only under the circumstance of the provision of a real peace deal, Kyiv is trying to reach this verdict as soon as possible. If Putin were to attend, the next round of the potential peace talks would be attended by the Turkish president Erdogan, who has already saw to the course of the previous one, but also the US president Trump, who ever since he started his campaign for the presidential elections, has made it clear that he intends to stop Russo-Ukrainian conflict as soon as possible. Donald Trump has shown that he can change his mind rather swiftly, but based on his relationship with Putin, it is highly probable that if the Russian president states that he will personally attend peace talks, Trump would not miss it either. But it is also necessary to consider whether Trump’s potential presence would boost Putin’s will to attend, or cause quite the opposite.

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Ukraine Improves Search for Missing Persons

On June 30, the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine introduced a new digital tool to support families searching for loved ones who have gone missing in extraordinary circumstances. The project, called the Unified Information Platform for Missing Persons, was launched with the aim of radically simplifying the search process and eliminating existing bureaucratic obstacles.

The web portal integrates data from all institutions involved in the search, not only within Ukraine, but also from international organisations. Users will find detailed instructions and all the necessary forms on the website to initiate a search, file an official request or criminal complaint, as well as instructions for providing DNA samples for identification purposes. Users are also allowed to obtain an official extract from the Unified Register of Persons Missing in Extraordinary Circumstances, find out about their rights and entitlements to social support, and provide direct links to check whether a person is being held captive.

For this reason, specialised centres for searching for missing persons have been set up in each regional investigation department within the National Police. In addition, the platform contains a special section where families can easily find contact details for their local centre and assigned investigator, track the status of the investigation, and receive current information on the results of DNA and other forensic tests.

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MOLDOVA

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Moldova Aligns with EU Sanctions Policy

 Moldova has been trying to make progress within its integration into Western structures, and based on that, Moldova’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs is making its decisions in the regulation of foreign policy. Based on the first reading, the parliament has approved that the national mechanism for implementing international restrictive measures would be allowing the Foreign Affairs Ministry to ensure its position as the decision-making authority within Moldova’s internal structure, while the draft mainly focuses on the measures established by the European Union. This document concerns the regulation of restrictive goods that are significantly important and include interests of national security as well.

This regulation allows the Moldovan Ministry of Foreign Affairs to responsibly decide whether the country’s interests align with international sanctions. Strategic goods from sanctioned regimes will therefore be under the authority of the Ministry under the process of consultations with the prime minister and other relevant parties in Moldova, ensuring potentially the best outcome for the country and its path of integration into the European Union. The bill also clarifies that the State Tax Service is to freeze economic resources and funds belonging to sanctioned entities, so they cannot operate within the Moldovan economic infrastructure and further threaten the country’s national interests.

There is also a deadline introduced to implement decisions issued by the Inter-Institutional Supervision Council in order to ensure a prompt and efficient enforcement of restrictive measures, so that Moldova’s internal structure is adjusting to the national legislation of the European Union. Moldova’s European integration is standing on the pillars of the EU standards and practices, enhancing the process of Moldova and its structural change, and slow decision-making towards the European Union.

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A New Law in Moldova will Allow Shooting Down Drones

The Moldovan government is planning to discuss a law on airspace security that responds to modern threats such as drones and missiles. The legislation, drafted by the Ministry of Defence, gives the army the ability to destroy objects that illegally enter Moldovan airspace. According to the Ministry of Defence, the reason for the change is an outdated law from 2012, which does not take into account modern threats and technologies, especially drones. The explanatory memorandum states that in the context of a dynamic geopolitical environment, mainly the situation in the Middle East and Ukraine, and with rapid technological progress, protecting the airspace has become a top priority.

The new law precisely defines what is considered a threat. These include flights of aircraft with their positioning devices turned off, disruption of flight corridors, or direct acts of air aggression, if subject violates airspace and does not respond to calls, the military will be able to dispatch fighter jets to establish contact, escort it, force it to land, or use warning shots. The law also introduces the most severe measures for cases of direct aggression. If unauthorised aircraft, helicopters, drones, or missiles enter the airspace with aggressive intent, air defence systems will be able to destroy them. Such action will be taken based on an assessment of the real threat to the population and critical infrastructure.

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