European Council President Charles Michel has promised to boost military aid to Moldova, whose Moscow-backed separatist region of Transdniester has reported several incidents that led to accusations Russia is seeking to destabilize the former Soviet republic and possibly involve it in its war against Ukraine.
"This year we plan to significantly increase our support to Moldova by providing its armed forces with additional military equipment," Michel told a press conference with Moldova's President Maia Sandu during a visit to Chisinau on May 4. He gave no further details.
Michel also pledged support for Moldova against cyberattacks and disinformation, adding that avoiding escalation in Transdniester is of critical importance.
"We need to maintain stability," Michel said, adding that the 27-member bloc has a responsibility to come to Moldova's aid during the war in neighboring Ukraine.
"The EU stands in full solidarity with you, with Moldova. It is our European duty to help and to support your country," Michel said.
Moldova has seen an influx of hundreds of thousands of Ukrainian refugees since the start of Moscow's unprovoked invasion on February 24, and Michel said the EU will help Chisinau "cope with the consequences of the spillover from the Russian aggression in Ukraine."
"We will continue to deepen our partnership with you to bring your country closer to the EU," Michel said.
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Sandu, in turn, said that Moldova has plans in place for "pessimistic scenarios" but added that "we see no imminent risk right now."
She said the incidents in Transdniester were "generated by the pro-war forces" there and "we try to discourage such incidents."
Transdniester last week claimed that explosions hit the Security Ministry, a military unit, and a Russian-owned radio tower, while shots had allegedly been fired at a village housing a Russian arms depot, which Moscow called "acts of terrorism."
Ukraine has said Russia wants to destabilize the region to create a pretext for a military intervention.
Russia-backed Transdniester, a narrow strip of land between Moldova proper and Ukraine, declared independence from Chisinau in 1990. The two sides fought a brief war in 1992 that was quelled by Russian troops intervening on the side of separatists.
Russia still maintains some 1,500 soldiers in Transdniester who are said to be guarding a huge Soviet-era arms depot.
Besides the troops ostensibly guarding the depot, Russia has another 400-500 soldiers in Transdniester who have been labeled as peacekeepers since the end of the 1992 war.
Fears of a spillover from the Ukraine conflict grew after a Russian general said Moscow's invasion had the goal to create a land corridor through southern Ukrainian territory to Transdniester.