Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Galuzin told RIA Novosti that “the intensification of cooperation between Chisinau and NATO countries in the military and military-technical sphere is a factor that undermines to a great extent the security of Moldova itself,” the Biziday news portal reports.

“As experience shows, recklessly pumping a country with Western weapons or deploying NATO contingents on its territory does not add to its security and sovereignty at all, but, on the contrary, brings it closer to a catastrophe,” Galuzin notes.

The Russian Foreign Ministry representative condemned the “reckless pumping of Moldova with Western weapons” and urged Chisinau “not to repeat the sad experience of Kiev”.

Moldova’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and European Integration Nicu Popescu said earlier that the country was in a very difficult security situation and needed to strengthen its defence potential. Chisinau is counting on activating military cooperation with Germany, Romania and France.

Earlier, on 8 December, in an official NATO statement, NATO Deputy Secretary General Mircea Geoană referred to Russia’s war against Ukraine as “the biggest challenge to our security in decades”.

The Deputy Secretary General spoke of NATO’s continued efforts to support Ukraine, protect allies and support partners under Russian pressure, including Moldova.

The Deputy Secretary General also underlined that at the NATO ministerial meeting in Bucharest, the Allies discussed NATO’s tailored support for Moldova, including additional support for capacity building, reforms and training to improve security and defence institutions.

Moldova was represented at the meeting by Minister Nicu Popescu – the first time a Moldovan foreign minister has attended a NATO ministerial meeting.

“In the current security context, our partnership is even more important,” concluded Mr Geoană. “Because our partnership helps make you safer, which in turn makes us all safer – today and for future generations.”