Economic security

CATASTROPHE FOR EU: Moldova looks to scrap EU trade deal in favour of RUSSIA

President Igor Dodon, who swept into power in December, beating his pro-EU rivals, made the shock announcement. 

At a joint press conference with the two leaders, referring to the EU deal, Mr Dodon said: “This agreement hasn’t given Moldova any benefits.

“We lost the Russian market and — strangely — our export volumes to the EU have fallen as well.”

The first Moldovan president to visit Russia in nine years, Mr Dodon's move buoys President Putin’s efforts to re-establish Moscow’s sphere of influence over the former Soviet nations.