Russia says it will respond after Moldova decided to join European Union sanctions against Moscow.
Moldova introduced some sanctions against 13 Russian individuals earlier this year, but has reportedly joined the far more sweeping set the EU has implemented against Moscow, as the country attempts to get closer to the bloc.
“We regard this as yet another hostile step by the Moldovan leadership, which is fully integrated into the anti-Russian campaign of the ‘collective West’,” the Russian defence ministry said in a statement.
“Its aim is the complete destruction of Russian-Moldovan relations, which, through the fault of official Chisinau, are already in a very deplorable state.”
Moscow would retaliate, the ministry said.
Moldova and Ukraine obtained candidate status for EU membership in June last year, and Maia Sandu, the Moldovan president, was in Kyiv to meet Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Tuesday.
Russian security services sever ties with Moldovan counterpart after sanctions spat
A little more on the spat between Moldova and Russia now (see our post at 2.45pm), as it appears the first wave of Russian retaliation against Moldovan sanctions has already been announced.
The Russian intelligence services have cut all ties with their Moldovan counterparts, after Moldova decided to join European Union sanctions against Moscow, according to state media.
Russia’s defense ministry promised retaliation.
“Cooperation agreements between the information and security service of Moldova and the foreign intelligence service and the FSB have been terminated,” TASS said.
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