Present Day
Moldova pursues democratic development and European integration.
At present, Moldova stands as a young democracy defined by resilience and ambition. In recent decades, it has consolidated state institutions, pursued reforms, and nurtured a society where transparency, freedom of expression, and civic participation are upheld as core values.
Each step forward illustrates a nation determined to strengthen its democratic foundations and to secure stability, progress, and dignity for generations to come.
2024
EU opens accession negotiations with Moldova
On 25 June 2024, Moldova entered a new chapter as the European Union officially opened accession negotiations. The moment reflected years of progress and the steady will to align with European values. While the path ahead is complex, this step highlights Moldova’s determination to modernize and integrate more deeply into Europe.
It will remain a defining reference in the nation’s story, symbolizing resilience, continuity, and the promise of a stronger future.
2022
Moldova was officially granted candidate status by European Union.
On 23 June 2022, the European Council granted Moldova official EU candidate status.The decision recognized not only the country’s European perspective but also the determination shown through reforms and democratic progress.
For Moldova, the moment represented an affirmation of belonging within the European family, reinforcing the idea that its path toward integration is both achievable and deeply rooted in the aspirations of its people.
1992
Conflict in the Transnistrian region following Moldova’s independence.
The Transnistrian conflict erupted in March 1992, shortly after Moldova’s independence, when armed clashes broke out between Moldovan forces and separatist groups supported by Russia’s 14th Army. Fighting escalated in June with the Battle of Bender, leaving deep scars on the young nation.
On 21 July 1992, a ceasefire agreement was signed, ending hostilities but leaving the conflict unresolved. The episode revealed Moldova’s resilience and laid the foundation for its continued pursuit of sovereignty, stability, and democratic development.
1991
Moldova declares independence following the collapse of the Soviet Union.
Moldova declared its independence on August 27, 1991, amidst the collapse of the Soviet Union. This declaration marked the country's official secession, establishing the Republic of Moldova as a sovereign state and completing its transition from a Soviet Socialist Republic to an independent nation.
1940
Bessarabia was annexed by the Soviet Union, forming the Moldavian SSR.
Bessarabia was annexed by the Soviet Union in June 1940, following an ultimatum to Romania and the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact. This action led to the formation of the Moldavian Soviet Socialist Republic (MSSR), changing the region's political and administrative structure and commencing a five-decade period of Soviet rule.
1918
Bessarabia unites with the Kingdom of Romania after World War I.
Following the Russian Revolution and the chaos of World War I, Bessarabia's legislative body, the Sfatul Țării (Council of the Country), first declared the Moldavian Democratic Republic in 1917, and then proclaimed union with the Kingdom of Romania on March 27/April 9, 1918. This act made Bessarabia the first province to join Greater Romania.
1812
Eastern Moldova ceded to the Russian Empire, becoming Bessarabia.
Eastern Moldova, a vassal of the Ottoman Empire, was ceded to the Russian Empire by the Treaty of Bucharest in May 1812, concluding the Russo-Turkish War. The Prut River became the new boundary. This annexed territory, between the Prut and Dniester rivers, was subsequently organized as the Russian province of Bessarabia.
16th Century–Early 19th Century
Moldavia under Ottoman suzerainty with relative autonomy.
From the 16th to the early 19th century, the Principality of Moldavia (the historical predecessor of modern Moldova) was a tributary vassal state of the Ottoman Empire. It paid an annual tribute to the Sultan but retained significant internal autonomy, including its own political and religious institutions and native princes (until the Phanariote period in the 18th century).
14th Century
Establishment of the Principality of Moldavia.
The establishment of the Principality of Moldavia occurred in the 14th century through a two-stage process led by Vlach (Romanian) voivodes from Maramureș: an initial foundation as a Hungarian march and a subsequent achievement of independence.
4800–3000 BC
Cucuteni-Trypillian culture thrives, showcasing early European civilization.
The Cucuteni-Trypillian culture (c. 4800–3000 BC) was a vast Neolithic/Chalcolithic society thriving in modern Moldova, Romania, and Ukraine. Known for its advanced agriculture, complex settlements (including some of the world's largest at the time, called 'mega-sites'), and distinctive, intricately painted pottery, it represents one of the most significant early European civilizations. They are also famous for ritualistically burning their large settlements every 60–80 years.
