Moldovan President Maia Sandu awarded President Volodymyr Zelensky wthe Order of the Republic – Moldova’s highest state decoration – during her visit to Kyiv on Aug. 24, as Ukraine marked its 35th Independence Day. Sandu publicly referred to the award again during a joint news conference with Zelensky and Romanian President Nicușor Dan in Chișinău, Moldova on Thursday, Aug. 27.JOIN US ON TELEGRAMFollow our coverage of the war on the @Kyivpost_official. “And while Ukraine is fighting there, in the east, Moldova can sleep peacefully,” Sandu said during a livestream broadcasted by Ukraine’s Presidential Office. “Therefore, in Kyiv, I announced the awarding of the highest state award of our country to President Zelensky for his enormous contribution to protecting peace and freedom on the European continent,” she continued. Ukraine and Moldova share Independence Days in same week “A few days ago, the president of Moldova was with us in Ukraine on our Independence Day,” Zelensky said in a statement. “Today, Ukraine stands with Moldova on its Independence Day.” “Friends should stand shoulder to shoulder,” he continued, as both countries marked their 35th independence anniversaries just three days apart. The two countries are also taking steps toward the EU together, with their accession paths directly intertwined. Trilateral talks in Chișinău During a trilateral meeting with Sandu and Dan on Thursday, Zelensky said the leaders discussed energy cooperation, shared infrastructure, security capabilities, and EU integration.