The President of the Republic of Moldova, Maia Sandu, assured on Monday in Prague that a possible victory of Russia over Ukraine would lead to the end of her country as a free state, reports EFE.

“If Russia won, it would probably end the existence of the Republic of Moldova as a free state,” as it would mean the loss of political and civil liberties, Sandu said at the opening of Forum 2000 in Prague.

After denouncing that the Russian invasion was aimed at “putting an end to the existence of Ukraine as a sovereign state and the Ukrainian people as a nation,” the 51-year-old politician urged Kyiv’s allies to prevent a Russian victory.

In addition, to strengthen its democracy, the Republic of Moldova hopes to make progress in full integration into the European Union (EU), she added.

After the country of 2.7 million people was part of the former Soviet bloc for decades, it was time to “follow the light at the end of the tunnel and enter the safe harbor in the EU and consolidate our democracy,” Sandu stressed.

In March 2022, a few days after the beginning of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the Republic of Moldova officially submitted an application to join the EU and received the status of a candidate country in the same year.

Sandu is scheduled to meet with Prime Minister of the Czech Republic Petr Fiala during his visit to Prague on Monday.