"Sandu's Position on Ukraine Is Clearer to Me than Dodon's." Zelensky on Election Results in Moldova

President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky stated that with a leader as Maia Sandu, Moldova is "very sympathetic" to him. According to Zelensky, Sandu's position on Ukraine in general and on the war in Donbass in particular is clearer to him than the position of the current President of Moldova Igor Dodon. Zelensky said this in an interview with The New York Times on December 19,  the press service of the President of Ukraine informed. Answering the question whether Sandu's victory in the Moldovan elections means the loss of Russian influence on the post-Soviet countries, Zelensky said that this is the choice of the Moldovan people. As Zelensky noted, Maia Sandu is the only government official he communicated with even before elections. “Before Maia Sandu became president, as prime minister, she flew to Ukraine. I met with her and know her position on Crimea. I understand her position on Ukraine as a whole, on the war in Donbas more than the position of the previous President Dodon. I enjoyed meeting with Maia. For obvious reasons, that I have just explained to you, I no longer had contacts with other leaders of the government or the former government in Moldova” Zelensky said. According to Zelensky, prior to elections in Moldova, Ukraine did not openly support any of the candidates. But, as Zelenskiy noted, he assured Sandu of his support, regardless the election results. “I support Maia, she knows it. I told her this even before the elections - whatever the result, we support you, I am very sympathetic to Moldova having a leader and I wish her democratic development. Moldova deserves it,” Zelensky said. It should be noted that Zelensky was one of the first leaders of the countries to congratulate Maia Sandu on winning the elections, even before the CEC processed 100% of the ballots. In the first telephone conversation the day after the presidential election, Volodymyr Zelenskyy invited Sandu to Kiev. Previously, Sandu said she plans to visit Kiev in January.