NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen has expressed concern that Russian President Vladimir Putin's ambition goes “beyond Ukraine”, as the Kremlin is seen endorsing frozen and protracted conflicts such as the Transnistrian dispute in Moldova.

“We have seen the illegal annexation of Crimea, we have seen a strong Russian hand in the destabilization of eastern Ukraine”, Rasmussen was quoted by AFP as telling reporters. “But actually we also see Russia behind the frozen and protracted conflicts in Transnistria and eastern Moldova, in Abkhazia and South Ossetia and Georgia”.

Rasmussen thinks Russia hopes to establish a sphere of Russian influence in surrounding countries, this being the reason why he is concerned that the Russian ambitions go beyond Ukraine.

NATO has accused Moscow of massing some 20,000 troops on the border with its former Soviet neighbor. While Ukraine is not a member of NATO, the military alliance has repeatedly expressed its support for Kiev in the face of “Russian aggression”.