The Russian Federation respects Moldova’s choice to join the European Union, but is waiting for the Moldovan officials at the negotiating table to clarify the future options as regards the energy sector and migration, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said in a news conference after a meeting with his Moldovan counterpart Natalia Gherman in Moscow, IPN reports.

Sergey Lavrov said that Russia would like more Moldovan – Russian consultations to take place now that Moldova is coming closer to initialing the Association Agreement with the EU. The meetings should focus on the obligations that Moldova will assume if the Association Agreement is signed and how they will affect the commercial-economic relations between Moldova and Russia.

Sergey Lavrov said they will have to discuss all the aspects of the cooperation in the energy sector in the context of the conditions imposed by the EU by its energy packages. The Russian side wants to know how the actions or regulations imposed on Moldova in the economic sphere will influence the relations between the two states.

“Trade with Moldova, including the Transnistrian region, is significant. We have serious investment potential and the prospects are very favorable. We want to know how everything will be coordinated,” said Sergey Lavrov.

He added that Russia will respect the European course of Moldova because it is a sovereign state.