On March 31, Deputy Minister for Community and Territorial Development of Ukraine Andriy Kashuba held an online meeting with the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Infrastructure and Regional Development of Moldova, Vladimir Bole. The discussion focused on restoring railway passenger services between Odessa and Chisinau, as well as the transit of Moldovan freight wagons through Ukraine, as reported by the Ministry of Community and Territorial Development of Ukraine, conveyed by the publication "South Today".

Joining the conversation were the chairman of Ukrzaliznytsia Oleksandr Pertzovskyi, head of the railway transport department Oleksandr Fedorenko, Secretary of State of the Ministry of Infrastructure of Moldova Pesculuță Mircea, and acting general director of the "Railways of Moldova" Sergey Kotelinik.

The Ukrainian side expressed interest in developing international railway transport with Moldova, emphasizing the need to consider security and economic factors.

"Ukraine and Moldova are not just neighbors but also reliable partners united by common European aspirations and a strategic vision for infrastructure development. We are confident that restoring the Odessa – Chisinau train will enhance transportation accessibility and economic ties between our countries, while also accounting for all security risks," said Deputy Minister Andriy Kashuba.

Additionally, the Ukrainian side emphasized the need for a detailed analysis of the economic feasibility of restoring the connection, including assessing passenger flow, infrastructure usage costs, and potential transportation tariffs, which will allow for an informed decision on launching the route.

The second issue discussed during the meeting was the restoration of transit for Moldovan freight wagons through Ukraine. The Ukrainian side confirmed the absence of any restrictions on their movement. Temporary difficulties in exchanging technical information arose due to a large-scale cyberattack on Ukrzaliznytsia's information systems on March 23.

"We are currently working actively to restore stable system operations. The Ukrainian side is ready to ensure full data exchange about Moldovan wagons as soon as the technical recovery measures are completed," the ministry stated.

In conclusion, it was noted that the parties agreed to continue working on all issues and maintain close communication for further development of railway connections between Ukraine and Moldova.