For 30 years, since independence on the break-up of the Soviet Union, Moldova has been a “buffer”, between Russia and the west. Russia has off and on for centuries seen the land that is now Moldova as its backyard. Pro-EU Moldovans can see only too well the difference between what is on offer from the west and Russia, Moldova’s President Maia Sandu said in an interview with the Financial Times, IPN reports.

“Russia has always tried to control Moldova. So when they saw they can’t use energy any more to blackmail us they decided on other measures, including street protests taking advantage of the social hardship,” stated Maia Sandu.

She noted that Russia’s plan to remake the Soviet Union is not realistic, while Ukraine is the one that protects Moldova in this regard.

“They would like to remake the Soviet Union. They want to bring back the old times. And we don’t want this. Moldova has been part of the buffer zone for 30 years and for us this meant poverty, corruption, bad governance, emigration. We want to be part of the democratic world… I don’t see Russia’s plan as realistic, but it continues to undermine our efforts,” said the President of the Republic of Moldova.