Moldova should be equipped to Nato standard, says UK's Truss

Moldova should be "equipped to Nato standard" to help it guard against the threat

Moldova should be "equipped to Nato standard" to help it guard against the threat of a Russian invasion, Qazet.az reports according to Foreign Secretary Liz Truss.

Ms Truss told the Telegraph that talks were under way with allies about how to help smaller nations defend themselves.

She said it was clear that, despite limited success in Ukraine, President Vladimir Putin retained "ambitions to create a greater Russia".

Moldova, once a Soviet republic, sits on Ukraine's south-western border.

It does not share a border with Russia, but is close to some of the regions currently occupied by Russian forces in Ukraine's south.

Moldova is not a member of Nato, although it did apply to join the European Union less than two weeks after the invasion of Ukraine.

Ms Truss said that discussions about upgrading Ukrainian defences to deter future aggression would also cover "other vulnerable states such as Moldova".

"I would want to see Moldova equipped to Nato standard," she said. "This is a discussion we're having with our allies."