EU Accession Push: European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen says the EU will open the first negotiation cluster for Moldova and Ukraine in the coming days, moving both countries into the formal talks stage. Sanctions Pressure: The EU unveiled its 21st Russia sanctions package, including a proposed EU-wide entry ban for people who served in the Russian armed forces since the 2022 invasion. Regional Diplomacy: Moldova’s Deputy PM for reintegration Valeriu Chiveri met French senators on Transnistria, regional security, and the war’s impact, while Moldova and Romania also coordinated efforts to advance EU accession negotiations. EU Mission in the Region: The EU Council appointed Romanian diplomat Cosmin George Dinescu as Head of Mission for the EU Partnership Mission in Armenia, with prior experience leading EUPM Moldova. Energy & Markets: Moldova’s electricity exchange logged a new record day of traded power, and authorities are preparing to expand EV charging infrastructure as electric car numbers could double by 2030. Public Safety & Crime: Police detained five people in a fraud case after seizing over 5 million lei tied to a fake “state of emergency” scam. Disaster Readiness: Moldova will host MD–EU MODEX 2026, a major flood response exercise with teams from across Europe.