Reuters: Angela Merkel defends Moldova from Putin’s aggression

German Chancellor Angela Merkel in an interview with Reuters on Thursday expressed the hope that Vladimir Putin will not try to use the strategy he applied in Ukraine towards Moldova. The German leader said she supported Chisinau's efforts to establish closer relations with Europe, despite Moscow's negative reaction.

At a press conference hosted by the German leader and Romanian President Klaus Iohanis, Angela Merkel was asked whether there was a real risk that Romania's eastern neighbor could be the next target attacked by Russia. She replied: “Well, we hope not.” She added: “Germany and the entire European Union, including Romania, already feel politically closely tied to Moldova and will support the pro-European government of Ciril Gaburici.”

Moldova is one of the poorest countries in Europe, bordering on Ukraine and Romania. Last year, having ratified an agreement on political and economic cooperation with the EU, it made a sharp turn, having crossed out its future in the Russian Customs Union.

“Moldova is taking many, albeit small, steps that show that it is our close partner,” Merkel said, explaining why the EU is trying to compensate for the negative impact on the Moldavian economy of the Russian ban on the import of food and wine from Moldova.

The Romanian President noted that at this time there are no signs that Moscow is going to interfere in the internal affairs of Moldova.

According to Merkel and Yohanis, The crisis in Ukraine brought the situation with Transnistria back to the spotlight, which is a disputed territory uncontrolled by the Moldovan authorities. In fact, these territories are under the influence of Russia, which constantly threatens that Chisinau will permanently lose this part of its country if it follows the policy of rapprochement with the European Union.

One of the reasons for the outbreak of war with the separatists in the east of Ukraine waspro-european Kiev politics. A similar policy is pursued by the leadership of Moldova, the opposition to Moscow.

This week, British Prime Minister David Cameron expressed concern that Russia would try to destabilize other countries in Eastern Europe if it went unpunished for its actions in Ukraine. “The next one will be either Moldova or one of the Baltic states,” Cameron said.