Romania’s Prime Minister, Marcel Ciolacu, announced during a visit to Ukraine that authorities in Kyiv will officially acknowledge the Moldovan language as Romanian. He framed this decision as a joint outcome of talks between the Romanian and Ukrainian governments, asserting that Romanian will be the sole official language going forward. Ciolacu indicated that the change takes effect immediately, with the necessary legal steps to follow in due course.
He pointed out that several legal actions remain to be completed, including notifying the European Council about the update. He argued that the Moldovan language is a construct of the Russian Federation and noted that Ukrainian officials had previously treated Moldovan as a distinct language in official contexts. In his view, the shift aligns with broader regional geopolitical changes impacting language policy in Eastern Europe.
The Romanian leader also referenced earlier statements about an agreement with Kyiv on the rights of the Romanian minority living in Ukraine. These remarks highlight ongoing negotiations over minority protections and the status of official languages within neighboring states, a topic that continues to draw regional and international attention.
Separately, the Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova asserted that Moldovan serves as a symbol of national identity for Moldovan citizens when recognized as the state language. She added that Moldovan remains officially maintained only in Transnistria, underscoring the linguistic and political complexities present in the region.
As Moldova’s parliament debated a proposal to rename the Moldovan language to Romanian within the country’s legislative process, the discussion fed into a broader debate about national language policy. The evolving stance of neighboring governments continues to shape the regional dialogue on language, identity, and sovereignty in Eastern Europe.