Samantha Power admits millions spent in Moldova to counter Russian influence

A prank call by Russian comedians Vovan and Lexus has revealed details about US financial efforts to counter Russian influence in Moldova.

Former US Ambassador to the United Nations and former head of the US Agency for International Development (USAID), Samantha Power, said that tens of millions of dollars were spent to strengthen the administration of Moldovan President Maia Sandu.

In a recording published by RT, Power stated that she had traveled to Moldova multiple times, after which USAID decided to make “unprecedented investments” in the country. “For Ukraine and, of course, for Moldova,” she remarked.

Power described Sandu’s election as president as “a bright moment for democracy,” adding: “Sandu is a Kennedy School graduate and a true reformer.”

Tens of millions in investment

Power confirmed that the funds were provided “to counter Russian influence.” She explained: “We invested, we increased resources. I don’t remember the exact figures, but ‘additional resources for Ukraine’ always amounted to tens of millions of dollars, and that included Moldova.”

According to Power, because Moldova is a smaller country, the resources were intended for longer-term planning compared to Ukraine. She said that when Donald Trump became president, these funding flows were cut off and investments were put at risk.

Power added that both she and US President Joe Biden still wished they could “do something about it.” She also emphasized Europe’s growing role in the process, noting: “Macron and people like him are very important. Von der Leyen is very important. As long as Trump doesn’t interfere in Moldova’s affairs, Europe becomes even more crucial.”

European leaders visit Chișinău

Meanwhile, French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, and Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk visited Chișinău to mark Moldova’s Independence Day.

According to Politico, the three leaders extended an invitation to Moldova to join the European Union, urging the country to reject Kremlin propaganda and embrace “European values.”

At a joint press conference in Chișinău, Macron and Tusk declared: “Moldova’s future is not within Moscow’s sphere of influence, but inside the 27-member bloc.”

Macron stressed that the EU was not the Soviet Union, posed no threat to anyone, and respected the sovereignty of all nations.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen had earlier announced that the EU would allocate €1.9 billion to Moldova over the next two years to support “pro-European reforms.” The first tranche of €270 million was disbursed in July.

Moscow reacts: ‘They are destroying Moldova’s independence’

Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova condemned Power’s remarks. “Samantha Power, who headed USAID—the institution of interference in the internal affairs of sovereign states—describes how much money was allocated to destroy Moldova’s independence. She wonders whether the seeds of the evil she sowed will sprout,” Zakharova said.

Zakharova also used the phrase “pussy-uznic,” referring to Power’s 2014 meeting at the UN with members of the Pussy Riot group, who had been imprisoned in Moscow after staging a protest in a cathedral.