Editing Moldovan language (section)

== History and politics ==
=== Birth ===
[[File:Stamp of Moldova 413.gif|alt=|thumb|1999 Moldovan stamp celebrating 10 years since reverting to the Latin script]]
[[File:Vietile sfintilor, Chisinau, 1928.jpg|alt=|thumb|Book in a supposed Moldovan language published in interwar Romania]]
<!-- DO NOT ADD quotes that: (1) do not fit into this section of the article (2) have highly dubious references (3) are taken out of context from a reference and used with a different point than in the original reference -->

The history of the Moldovan language refers to the historical evolution of the [[glottonym]] ''Moldavian''/''Moldovan'' in Moldova and beyond. It is closely tied to the region's political status, as during long periods of rule by [[Russia]] and the [[Soviet Union]], officials emphasized the language's name as part of separating the Moldovans from those people who began to identify as Romanian in a different nation-building process. Cyrillic script was in use. From a linguistic perspective, ''Moldovan'' is an alternative name for the varieties of the [[Romanian language]] spoken in the [[Moldova|Republic of Moldova]] (see [[History of the Romanian language]]).

Before 1918, during the period between the wars, and after the [[union of Bessarabia with Romania]], scholars did not have consensus that Moldovans and the Romanians formed a single ethnic group.{{sfn|King|2000|pp=57–59}} The Moldovan peasants had grown up in a different political entity and missed the years of creating a pan-Romanian national political consciousness. They identified as Moldovans speaking the language "Moldovan". This caused reactions from pan-Romanian nationalists.{{sfn|King|1999|p=120}} The concept of the distinction of Moldovan from Romanian was explicitly stated only in the early&nbsp;20th&nbsp;century. It accompanied the raising of national awareness among Moldovans, with the Soviets emphasizing distinctions between Moldavians and Romanians.<ref name="Fedor">{{cite book |editor-last1=Fedor |editor-first1=Helen |title=Belarus and Moldova: Country Studies |date=1995 |publisher=Federal Research Division, Library of Congress |location=Washington DC |pages=121–122 |url=https://www.loc.gov/resource/frdcstdy.belarusmoldovaco00fedo_0/?sp=155 |access-date=4 June 2020 |language=en |quote=Stalin justified the creation of the Moldavian SSR by claiming that a distinct "Moldavian" language was an indicator that  "Moldavians" were a separate nationality from the Romanians  in Romania. In order to give greater credence to this claim, in  1940 Stalin imposed the Cyrillic alphabet on "Moldavian" to  make it look more like Russian and less like Romanian; archaic  Romanian words of Slavic origin were imposed on "Moldavian"; Russian loanwords and phrases were added to "Moldavian"; and a new theory was advanced that "Moldavian" was at  least partially Slavic in origin. In 1949 Moldavian citizens were  publicly reprimanded in a journal for daring to express themselves in literary Romanian. The Soviet government continued  this type of behavior for decades.   Proper names were subjected to Russianization (see Glossary) as well. Russian endings were added to purely Romanian  names, and individuals were referred to in the Russian manner  by using a patronymic (based on one's father's first name)  together with a first name. |archive-date=8 March 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210308190618/https://www.loc.gov/resource/frdcstdy.belarusmoldovaco00fedo_0/?sp=155 |url-status=live }}</ref> ''Moldavian'' has also been recorded by the 1960s' ''Romanian Linguistic Atlas'' as the answer to the question "What [language] do you speak?" in parts of [[Western Moldavia]] ([[Galați County|Galați]] and [[Iași County|Iași]] counties).<ref>{{cite book |last1=Arvinte |first1=Vasile |title=Român, românesc, România |date=1983 |publisher=Editura Științifică și Enciclopedică |location=București |page=50}}</ref>

Major developments since the fall of the Soviet Union include resuming use of a Latin script rather than Cyrillic letters in 1989, and several changes in the statutory name of the official language used in Moldova. At one point of particular confusion about identity in the 1990s, all references to geography in the name of the language were dropped, and it was officially known simply as ''{{lang|ro|limba de stat}}'' — 'the state language'.

Moldovan was assigned the code <code>mo</code> in [[ISO 639-1]] and code <code>mol</code> in [[ISO 639-2]] and [[ISO 639-3]].<ref>[[SIL International]]: [http://www.sil.org/iso639-3/documentation.asp?id=mol ISO 639 code sets: Documentation for ISO 639 identifier: mol] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121011195553/http://www.sil.org/iso639-3/documentation.asp?id=mol |date=11 October 2012 }}</ref> Since November&nbsp;2008, these have been deprecated, leaving <code>ro</code> and <code>ron</code> (639-2/T) and <code>rum</code> (639-2/B), the language identifiers {{as of | 2013 | lc = on}} to be used for the variant of the Romanian language also known as Moldavian and Moldovan in English, the ISO 639-2 Registration Authority said in explaining the decision.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.loc.gov/standards/iso639-2/php/code_changes.php |title=Code Changes: ISO 639-2 Registration Authority |publisher=US [[Library of Congress]] |quote=The identifiers mo and mol are deprecated, leaving ro and ron (639-2/T) and rum (639-2/B) the current language identifiers to be used for the variant of the Romanian language also known as Moldavian and Moldovan in English and ''moldave'' in French. The identifiers mo and mol will not be assigned to different items, and recordings using these identifiers will not be invalid |access-date=29 December 2017 |archive-date=28 April 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190428235442/http://www.loc.gov/standards/iso639-2/php/code_changes.php |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.alvestrand.no/pipermail/ietf-languages/2008-November/008635.html |title=ISO 639 JAC decision re mo/mol |date=3 November 2008 |publisher=www.alvestrand.no |access-date=26 February 2011 |archive-date=7 June 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110607074517/http://www.alvestrand.no/pipermail/ietf-languages/2008-November/008635.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

In 1989, the contemporary Romanian version of the [[Latin alphabet]] was adopted as the [[official script]] of the [[Moldavian SSR]].<ref name="lege-rssm">{{in lang|ro}} [[s:ro:Legea cu privire la funcționarea limbilor vorbite pe teritoriul RSS Moldovenești|Legea cu privire la funcționarea limbilor vorbite pe teritoriul RSS Moldovenești nr.&nbsp;3465-XI din 01.09.89&nbsp;Vestile&nbsp;nr.&nbsp;9/217, 1989]] (Law regarding the usage of languages spoken on the territory of the Republic of Moldova): "Moldavian SSR supports the desire of the Moldovans that live across the borders of the Republic, and considering the really existing linguistical Moldo-Romanian identity – of the Romanians that live on the territory of the USSR, of doing their studies and satisfying their cultural needs in their mother tongue."</ref>

=== Independent Moldova ===

The Declaration of Independence<ref>{{cite web|format=DOC|url=http://www.europa.md/upload/File/alte_documente/Declaratia%20de%20Independenta%20a%20Republicii%20Moldova%202(1).doc|title=Declaratia de Independenta a Republicii Moldova|trans-title=Moldovan Declaration of Independence|language=ro|publisher=europa.md|date=27 August 1991|url-status=unfit|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090305220335/http://www.europa.md/upload/File/alte_documente/Declaratia%20de%20Independenta%20a%20Republicii%20Moldova%202(1).doc|archive-date=5 March 2009}}</ref> of [[Moldova]] (27 August 1991) named the official language as "Romanian". The 1994 constitution, passed under a Communist government, declared "Moldovan" as the state language.

When in 1993 the [[Romanian Academy]] changed the official orthography of the Romanian language, the Institute of Linguistics at the [[Academy of Sciences of Moldova]] did not initially make these changes, which however have since been adopted.{{source needed|date=March 2021}}

In 1996, the Moldovan president [[Mircea Snegur]] attempted to change the official [[glottonym|name of the language]] back to ''Romanian''; the Moldovan Parliament, dominated by the Democratic Agrarian Party and various far left forces, dismissed the proposal as promoting "Romanian expansionism".

In 2003, a [[Moldovan–Romanian dictionary]] ({{lang|ro|Dicționar Moldovenesc–Românesc}} (2003)) by [[Vasile Stati]] was published aiming to prove that there existed two distinct languages. Reacting to this, linguists of the [[Romanian Academy]] in Romania declared that all the Moldovan words are also Romanian words, although some of its contents are disputed as being Russian [[loanword]]s. In Moldova, the head of the [[Academy of Sciences of Moldova|Academy of Sciences]]' Institute of Linguistics, Ion Bărbuță, described the dictionary as "an absurdity, serving political purposes". Stati, however, accused both of promoting "Romanian colonialism". At that point, a group of Romanian linguists adopted a resolution stating that promotion of the notion of a distinct Moldovan language is an anti-scientific campaign.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ziare.ro/articol.php?id=1193864896 |website=Ziare.ro |title=Linguists condemn "Moldovan language" |access-date=10 November 2007 |language=ro |archive-date=4 August 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200804012158/http://www.ziare.ro/articol.php?id=1193864896 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

In 2003, the [[Parliament of the Republic of Moldova]] adopted a law defining ''Moldovan'' and ''Romanian'' as designations for the same language ([[:wikt:glottonym|glottonyms]]).<ref name=":0" /> 

In the [[2004 Moldovan Census|2004 census]], 16.5% (558,508) of the 3,383,332 people living in Moldova declared Romanian as their native language, whereas 60% declared Moldovan. Most of the latter responses were from rural populations. While the majority of the population in the capital city of [[Chișinău]] gave their language as "Romanian", in the countryside more than six-sevenths of the Romanian/Moldovan speakers indicated "Moldovan" as their native language, reflecting historic conservatism.<ref name="Census 2004">{{cite web|url=http://www.statistica.md/pageview.php?l=en&idc=263&id=2208|title=2004 Population Census|work=National Bureau of Statistics of the Republic of Moldova|access-date=14 July 2016|archive-date=13 November 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121113163934/http://www.statistica.md/pageview.php?l=en&id=2208&idc=263|url-status=live}}</ref> Currently, 2,184,065 people or 80.2% of those covered by the 2014 census on the right bank of the Dniester or Moldova (proper, without the Transnistrian separatist region) identified Moldovan or Romanian as their native language, of which 1,544,726 (55.1%) declared Moldovan and 639.339 (22.8%) declared it Romanian.<ref>"Rezultatele Recensământului Populației și al Locuințelor 2014", at  https://statistica.gov.md/ro/recensamantul-populatiei-si-al-locuintelor-2014-122.html</ref> According to the 2014 census, 2,720,377 answered to the question on "language usually used for communication". 2,138,964 people or 78.63% of the inhabitants of Moldova (proper, without the Transnistrian separatist region) have Moldovan/Romanian as first language, of which 1,486,570 (53%) declared it Moldovan and 652,394 (23.3%) declared it Romanian.<ref>"Rezultatele Recensământului Populației și al Locuințelor 2014", at  https://statistica.gov.md/ro/recensamantul-populatiei-si-al-locuintelor-2014-122.html</ref>

In the Republic of Moldova, “more than half of the self-proclaimed Moldovans (53.5%) said that they saw no difference” between the Romanian and Moldovan languages according to a survey conducted by Pal Kolsto and Hans Olav Melberg in 1998.<ref>Pal Kolsto with Hans Olav Melberg, “Integration, Alienation, and Conflict in Estonia and Moldova,” in Pal Kolsto (ed.), National Integration and Violent Conflict in Post-Soviet Societies (Lanham: Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, Inc.), p. 34. The article discusses the data of the survey. The data also includes Transnistria, the mostly Russian-speaking area of eastern Moldova. See Kolsto, p. 35.</ref> Opinion polling from the Chernivtsi oblast indicated that a significant majority of the self-identified Moldovans thought that there was no difference between the Moldovan language and the Romanian language in that part of Ukraine.<ref>Ion Popescu and Constantin Ungureanu, ''Romanii dn Ucraina - intre trecut si viitor'', vol. 1 (''Romanii din Regiunea Cernauti''), Cernauti, 2005.</ref> According to Alla Skvortsova, an ethnic Russian researcher from the Republic of Moldova, "Our survey found that while 94.4 percent of the Romanians living in Moldova consider Moldovan and Romanian to be the same language, only half of the Moldovans (53.2 percent) share this view".<ref>Alla Skvortsova, "The Cultural and Social Makeup of Moldova: A Bipolar or Dispersed Society?", in Pal Kolsto (ed.), ''National Integration and Violent Conflict in Post-Soviet Societies'' (Lanham: Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, Inc.), p. 168.</ref>

In schools in Moldova, the term ''Romanian language'' has been used since independence.<ref name=":1" />

In December 2007, [[President of Moldova|Moldovan president]] [[Vladimir Voronin]] asked for the term to be changed to ''Moldovan language'', but due to public pressure against that choice, the term was not changed.<ref>{{cite web|date=18 December 2007|title=Professors from the University of Balti protest against replacing 'Romanian language' with 'Moldovan language'|url=http://www.moldova.org/professors-from-the-university-of-balti-protest-against-replacing-romanian-language-with-moldovan-language-81780-eng/|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://archive.today/20151016045349/http://www.moldova.org/professors-from-the-university-of-balti-protest-against-replacing-romanian-language-with-moldovan-language-81780-eng/|archive-date=16 October 2015|access-date=16 October 2015|work=DECA-Press|publisher=moldova.org}}</ref>

In December 2013, the [[Constitutional Court of Moldova]] ruled that the Declaration of Independence takes precedence over the Constitution and that the state language should be called Romanian.<ref name="const-court" /><ref name="foxnews"/>

By March 2017, the presidential website under [[Igor Dodon]] had changed the Romanian language option to ''Moldovan'',<ref>{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=2017-03-02|title=Președinția Republicii Moldova|url=http://www.presedinte.md/rom/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170302033610/http://www.presedinte.md/rom/|archive-date=2017-03-02|access-date=2020-12-24|website=presedinte.md}}</ref> which was described to be "in accordance with the constitution" by said president. The change was reverted on 24&nbsp;December 2020, the day Maia Sandu assumed office.<ref>{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=2020-12-24|title=Președinția Republicii Moldova|url=http://www.presedinte.md/rom|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201224154543/http://www.presedinte.md/rom|archive-date=2020-12-24|access-date=2020-12-24|website=presedinte.md}}</ref>

In June 2021, during a meeting between the [[Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Romania)|Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Romania]] [[Bogdan Aurescu]] and the [[Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Ukraine)|Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine]] [[Dmytro Kuleba]], the former asked Ukraine to recognize the nonexistence of the Moldovan language to improve the situation of the [[Romanians in Ukraine]]. Kuleba responded to this saying that they were trying to do the paperwork for this as soon as possible.<ref name="ukr" /> On 30 November 2022, during another meeting between Aurescu and Kuleba, Aurescu reiterated this request.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.stiripesurse.ro/romania-solicitare-ferma-pentru-ucraina-kievul-sa-nu-recunoasca-limba-moldoveneasca_2680810.html|title=FOTO România, solicitare fermă pentru Ucraina: Kievul să nu recunoască 'limba moldovenească'|newspaper=Știri pe surse|date=30 November 2022|language=ro|access-date=3 December 2022|archive-date=3 December 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221203092010/https://www.stiripesurse.ro/romania-solicitare-ferma-pentru-ucraina-kievul-sa-nu-recunoasca-limba-moldoveneasca_2680810.html|url-status=live}}</ref> This happened again during a phone call between the two ministers on 12 April 2023, after Moldova had legally changed its official language to Romanian.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.publika.md/bogdan-aurescu-vrea-ca-ucraina-sa-renunte-la-sintagma-limba-moldoveneasca-cum-au-reactionat-autoritatile-ucrainene_3136016.html|title=Bogdan Aurescu vrea ca Ucraina să renunțe la sintagma "limba moldovenească". Cum au reacționat autoritățile ucrainene|publisher=[[Publika TV]]|date=13 April 2023|language=ro}}</ref>

=== Discontinuation in Moldova and Ukraine ===
On 2 March 2023, the Moldovan parliament voted to replace the phrases "Moldovan language", "state language" and "official language" in Moldovan legislation with the phrase "Romanian language". The change was presented not as a constitutional change, but only a technical one, as it would implement the 2013 decision of the Constitutional Court of Moldova. This change was supported by the ruling [[Party of Action and Solidarity]] and was strongly opposed by the [[Bloc of Communists and Socialists]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Video Îmbrânceli și scandal în Parlamentul de la Chișinău / "Limba moldovenească" dispare din toate legile Republicii Moldova |url=https://www.hotnews.ro/stiri-esential-26117106-video-imbranceli-scandal-parlamentul-chisinau-limba-moldoveneasca-dispare-din-toate-legile-republicii-moldova.htm |website=HotNews.ro |date=2 March 2023 |language=ro |access-date=2 March 2023 |archive-date=2 March 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230302164012/https://www.hotnews.ro/stiri-esential-26117106-video-imbranceli-scandal-parlamentul-chisinau-limba-moldoveneasca-dispare-din-toate-legile-republicii-moldova.htm |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2 March 2023 |title=Decizie cu scântei: "limba moldovenească" va fi înlocuită cu "limba română" în legislație |url=https://moldova.europalibera.org/a/decizie-cu-sc%C3%A2ntei-limba-moldoveneasc%C4%83-va-fi-%C3%AEnlocuit%C4%83-cu-limba-rom%C3%A2n%C4%83-%C3%AEn-legisla%C8%9Bie-/32296458.html |website=Europa Liberăb Moldova |language=ro |access-date=17 March 2023 |archive-date=7 March 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230307174510/https://moldova.europalibera.org/a/decizie-cu-sc%C3%A2ntei-limba-moldoveneasc%C4%83-va-fi-%C3%AEnlocuit%C4%83-cu-limba-rom%C3%A2n%C4%83-%C3%AEn-legisla%C8%9Bie-/32296458.html |url-status=live }}</ref> The [[Academy of Sciences of Moldova]] also supported this decision.<ref>{{Cite news |date=28 February 2023 |title='Ar pune capăt infinitelor discuții inutile'. AȘM susține inițiativa deputaților PAS pentru substituirea în textul legilor R. Moldova a sintagmei 'limba moldovenească' cu sintagma 'limba română' |language=ro |work=Ziarul de Gardă |url=https://www.zdg.md/stiri/stiri-sociale/ar-pune-capat-infinitelor-discutii-inutile-asm-sustine-initiativa-deputatilor-pas-pentru-substituirea-in-textul-legilor-r-moldova-a-sintagmei-limba-moldoveneasca/ |access-date=2 March 2023 |archive-date=2 March 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230302165046/https://www.zdg.md/stiri/stiri-sociale/ar-pune-capat-infinitelor-discutii-inutile-asm-sustine-initiativa-deputatilor-pas-pentru-substituirea-in-textul-legilor-r-moldova-a-sintagmei-limba-moldoveneasca/ |url-status=live }}</ref> The bill was approved on its second and final reading on 16 March.<ref>{{Cite news |last= |first= |date=17 March 2023 |title=Moldovan Parliament Approves Final Reading of Romanian Language Bill |language=en |work=RadioFreeEurope/RadioLiberty |url=https://www.rferl.org/a/moldova-parliament-approves-final-reading-romanian-language-bill/32321571.html |access-date=2023-03-18 |archive-date=17 March 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230317223413/https://www.rferl.org/a/moldova-parliament-approves-final-reading-romanian-language-bill/32321571.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=16 March 2023 |title=Sintagma "limba română" va fi introdusă în toate legile Republicii Moldova |url=https://www.moldpres.md/news/2023/03/16/23002127 |access-date=2023-03-18 |website=Moldpres |language=ro |archive-date=17 March 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230317090100/https://www.moldpres.md/news/2023/03/16/23002127 |url-status=live }}</ref> This attracted criticism from Russia. [[Maria Zakharova]], the spokeswoman for the [[Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation]], claimed that "the Romanian language should be renamed to Moldovan, and not the opposite".<ref>{{Cite news |date=18 March 2023 |title=Maria Zaharova, supărată foc: Limba română trebuie redenumită în "limba moldovenească" şi nu viceversa |url=https://www.hotnews.ro/stiri-international-26148202-maria-zaharova-suparata-foc-limba-romana-trebuie-redenumita-limba-moldoveneasca-nu-viceversa.htm |website=HotNews.ro |language=ro}}</ref> Romanian foreign minister Aurescu replied to this by saying, "This so-called Moldovan language does not exist, it is an artificial construct, which was created by the Soviet Union and has later been used by Russia for disinformation purposes".<ref>{{Cite news |last=Rubica |first=Andreea |date=20 March 2023 |title=Aurescu: Limba moldovenească nu există. Este o construcție artificială creată de Uniunea Sovietică |language=ro |work=adevarul.ro |url=https://adevarul.ro/politica/aurescu-limba-moldoveneasca-nu-exista-este-o-2251715.html |access-date=2023-03-22}}</ref> To this, Zakharova replied back by saying, "Sr. Bogdan Aurescu never existed either, but in the end he was created. Now it is possible to call him an artificial construct."<ref>{{Cite news |date=22 March 2023 |title=Maria Zaharova îl atacă pe Bogdan Aurescu în scandalul "limbii moldoveneşti": "Nici ministrul român nu a existat niciodată" |language=ro |work=Digi24.ro |url=https://www.digi24.ro/stiri/actualitate/maria-zaharova-il-ataca-pe-bogdan-aurescu-in-scandalul-limbii-moldovenesti-nici-ministrul-roman-nu-a-existat-niciodata-2290315 |access-date=2023-03-22}}</ref> The president of Moldova, Maia Sandu, promulgated the law on 22 March.<ref name="romanian-law-prom"/> It was published on the ''{{ill|Monitorul Oficial al Republicii Moldova|ro}}'' ("Official Bulletin of the Republic of Moldova"), a state publication where all promulgated laws are published, on 24 March, thus entering into force.<ref>{{Cite news |date=24 March 2023 |title=Legea prin care sintagma "limba moldovenească" a fost înlocuită cu "limba română" în legislația națională, inclusiv în Constituție, a intrat în vigoare |language=ro |work=Ziarul National |url=https://www.ziarulnational.md/legea-prin-care-sintagma-limba-moldoveneasca-a-fost-inlocuita-cu-limba-romana-in-legislatia-nationala-inclusiv-in-constitutie-a-intrat-in-vigoare/ |access-date=2023-03-24}}</ref> On 30 March, the changes appeared on the Constitution of Moldova.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://protv.md/actualitate/modificat-si-in-constitutie-limba-de-stat-a-republicii-moldova-este-limba-romana-foto---2648619.html|title=Modificat și în Constituție: "Limba de stat a Republicii Moldova este limba română" - FOTO|publisher=[[ProTV Chișinău]]|date=30 March 2023|language=ro}}</ref>

On 13 April, Romanian Foreign Minister [[Bogdan Aurescu]] requested the Ukrainian Foreign Minister [[Dmytro Kuleba]] to relinquish the recognition of the Moldovan language in Ukraine.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Gridina |first=Marina |date=2023-04-13 |title=Aurescu asked Kuleba to give up the phrase "Moldovan language" in Ukraine |url=https://moldovalive.md/aurescu-asked-kuleba-to-give-up-the-phrase-moldovan-language-in-ukraine/ |access-date=2023-04-18 |website=Moldova |language=en-US}}</ref> However, as of June 2023, Ukraine still continues to make Moldovan-language schoolbooks.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://m.dcnews.ro/ucraina-sfideaza-comunitatea-romaneasca-si-tipareste-manuale-de-limba-si-literatura-moldoveneasca-in-ciuda-solicitarilor-bucurestiului-si-chisinaului_919345.html | title=Ucraina sfidează comunitatea românească și tipărește manuale de limba și literatura "moldovenească", în ciuda solicitărilor Bucureștiului și Chișinăului | date=12 June 2023 }}</ref>

On 18 August, [[Prime Minister of Romania]] [[Marcel Ciolacu]] and [[Prime Minister of Ukraine]] [[Denys Shmyhal]] had a meeting in Bucharest. Among the things that were discussed was the issue of the Romanian minority in Ukraine. Ciolacu said that Romania sought for the Romanians in Ukraine to have exactly the same rights as the [[Ukrainians in Romania]] and also for the removal of the Moldovan language from Ukrainian legislation.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.hotnews.ro/stiri-esential-26469154-premierul-ucrainean-denis-smihal-intalneste-bucuresti-marcel-ciolacu-temele-abordate.htm|title=VIDEO Premierul Ucrainei, la București / Marcel Ciolacu: Am stabilit dublarea tranzitului de cereale prin România / Dorim pentru românii din Ucraina exact aceleași drepturi de care se bucură ucrainenii din România|newspaper=HotNews|date=18 August 2023|language=ro}}</ref>

Starting from 1 September 2023, the high school in the village of [[Borysivka, Odesa Oblast|Borysivka]] ({{lang|ro|Borisăuca}}) in [[Odesa Oblast]], where Ukrainian Romanians study, replaced the term "Moldovan language" with "Romanian language" in its curriculum.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.stiripesurse.ro/ucrainenii-incep-sa-admita-ca-limba-moldoveneasca-nu-exista_3042093.html|title=Ucrainenii încep să admită că Limba moldovenească nu există|first=Radu|last=Pop|newspaper=Știri pe surse|date=27 August 2023|language=ro}}</ref>

On 10 October, during a meeting between Ciolacu and [[President of Ukraine]] [[Volodymyr Zelenskyy]], Ciolacu once again requested that the Ukrainian authorities stop recognizing the existence of the Moldovan language. On the same day, during a meeting with Romanian journalists, Zelenskyy was asked if Ukraine would stop recognising the Moldovan language. He responded by saying that he did not see this as a global problem and that it was not an urgent issue for a country at war but that the Ukrainian government would meet in a week or two and that a solution to the issue "I'm sure everyone will be happy" with would be found.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.digi24.ro/stiri/externe/zelenski-intrebat-daca-ucraina-este-pregatita-sa-recunoasca-ca-nu-exista-limba-moldoveneasca-guvernele-vor-gasi-solutii-2537211|title=VIDEO Zelenski, despre legea minorităților și limba moldovenească: Această problemă nu e presantă pentru mine. Guvernele vor găsi soluții|newspaper=Digi24|date=10 October 2023|language=ro}}</ref>

On 18 October, Ukrainian authorities promised to "resolve the issue of artificial separation between the Romanian and "Moldovan" languages by implementing appropriate practical measures with due consideration of all legal aspects."<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-10-18 |title=Спільна заява прем'єр-міністрів України та Румунії за результатами першого засідання урядів двох країн |url=https://www.kmu.gov.ua/news/spilna-zaiava-premier-ministriv-ukrainy-ta-rumunii-za-rezultatamy-pershoho-zasidannia-uriadiv-dvokh-krain |website=Кабінет Міністрів України |language=uk}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-10-19 |title=Bucharest Says Kyiv Recognizes Romanian As Official Language of Romanian Minority |url=https://www.rferl.org/a/ukraine-romania-language-minority/32644995.html |website=Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty}}</ref> Former Moldovan president [[Igor Dodon]], as well as the [[Revival Party (Moldova)|Revival Party]], have criticised this decision.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://newsmaker.md/ro/dodon-si-renastere-indignati-ca-ucraina-nu-mai-recunoaste-existenta-limbii-moldovenesti-au-refuzat-identitatea-moldovenilor/ | title=Dodon și "Renaștere", indignați că Ucraina nu mai recunoaște existența "limbii moldovenești": "Au refuzat identitatea moldovenilor" | date=19 October 2023 }}</ref> According to an expert on Ukrainian affairs interviewed by the Romanian newspaper ''[[Libertatea]]'', "Marcel Ciolacu's visit to Ukraine marked the end of a diplomatic effort by the Republic of Moldova and Romania in the face of Kyiv but, at the same time, it marks only the beginning of a difficult, lasting process within the Ukrainian state." Thus, the Moldovan language would not have been derecognised by Ukraine on 18 October, this was only in process.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.libertatea.ro/stiri/document-oficial-ce-nu-au-spus-guvernele-romaniei-si-al-ucrainei-schimbarea-limbii-moldovenesti-in-limba-romana-e-abia-in-faza-de-se-inainteaza-propuneri-4720952|title=DOCUMENT OFICIAL. Ce nu au spus guvernele României și Ucrainei: schimbarea "limbii moldovenești" în "limba română" e abia în faza de "se înaintează propuneri"|first=Marin|last=Gherman|newspaper=[[Libertatea]]|date=16 November 2023|language=ro}}</ref>

On 16 November, the Ministry of Education and Science of the Ukrainian government stated that it has initiated steps to abolish the Moldovan language and to replace it with Romanian.<ref>See ‘Official statement regarding the use in Ukraine of the term "Romanian language" instead of the term "Moldovan language"’, at https://mon.gov.ua/en/news/declaratie-oficiala-privind-utilizarea-in-ucraina-termenului-limba-romana-in-locul-termenului-limba-moldoveneasca </ref> The Ukrainian Ministry of Education stated: {{blockquote|‘The Government of Ukraine adopted a decision regarding the use of the term "Romanian language" instead of the term "Moldovan language" in Ukraine. Currently, work is underway to bring the current legislation of Ukraine in line with this decision, which includes many internal regulatory legal acts. Separately, we note that all further acts of the government will be adopted considering the agreements. And all civil servants who allow violations of the government's decision will be subject to disciplinary action. The facts reported in the media regarding the printed textbooks refer to the copies approved for printing in May this year. The main edition of these textbooks was printed in the summer before the decision was made not to use the term "Moldovan language". Today, the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine has stopped any additional printing of these textbooks. And also develops a mechanism for replacing previously printed copies with textbooks in the Romanian language.'<ref>{{cite web |title=Official statement on the use of the "Romanian language" term instead of the "Moldovan language" in Ukraine |url=https://www.kmu.gov.ua/en/news/ofitsiina-zaiava-shchodo-vykorystannia-v-ukraini-poniattia-rumunska-mova-zamist-poniattia-moldovska-mova |website=www.kmu.gov.ua |publisher=Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine |access-date=29 June 2024 |language=en |date=16 November 2023}}</ref><ref name="AutoK4-40">{{cite news|url=https://dumskaya.net/news/poslednie-moldavskie-shkoly-odesskoy-oblasti-per-181559/ua/|title=Останні молдавські школи Одеської області перейменували рідну мову на румунську: це відкриває низку можливостей для учнів|newspaper=Dumska|date=13 January 2024|language=uk}}</ref>}}

On 13 January 2024, Ukrainian newspaper ''Dumska'' reported that the Ukrainian Ministry of Education and Science had announced all 16 schools in Odesa Oblast teaching "Moldovan" had dropped the term in favor of Romanian.<REF name="AutoK4-40"/> However, Anatol Popescu, president of the Bessarabia National–Cultural Association, reported that in the Romanian school of {{ill|Utkonosivka|ro|Erdec-Burnu, Ismail|uk|Утконосівка}} ({{lang|ro|Erdec-Burnu}}), the term had been replaced with "language of the national minority" instead, protesting against this and against other issues that had been reported regarding the school's intended renaming and reorganization into a high school.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.ziarulnational.md/noi-probleme-la-o-scoala-romaneasca-din-ucraina-limba-moldoveneasca-a-fost-inlocuita-cu-limba-minoritatii-nationale-nu-cu-romana/|title=Noi probleme la o școală românească din Ucraina. "Limba moldovenească" a fost înlocuită cu "limba minorității naționale", nu cu româna|newspaper=Ziarul Național|date=30 January 2024|language=ro}}</ref>

On 24 December, the Ukrainian Government approved a bill that would propose replacing "Moldovan" with Romanian on Ukraine's new proposed international list in the [[European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages]], which would exclude it from the protected languages in Ukraine. The bill would also exclude the [[Belarusian language|Belarusian]] and Russian languages. The bill requires examination and approval by the [[Verkhovna Rada]] to enter into force.<ref name="24dec24">{{cite news|url=https://hotnews.ro/guvernul-de-la-kiev-solicita-ca-limba-moldoveneasca-sa-fie-inlocuita-cu-limba-romana-1869401|title=Guvernul de la Kiev solicită ca limba "moldovenească" să fie înlocuită cu limba română|first=Oxana|last=Bondar|newspaper=HotNews|date=26 December 2024|language=ro}}</ref>