The European Parliament has defied a past Russian warning and ratified closer EU ties with Moldova. Russia has tighted trade with the small, ex-Soviet republic bordering Ukraine since the EU signaled inclusion in June, reports GHN based on DW.
The EU's parliament voted overwhelmingly on Thursday to proceed with the EU's planned association agreement with Moldova. The trade and political pact still has to be ratified by the EU's 28 nations before coming into force.
EU and Moldovan officials insisted during Thursday deliberations in Brussels that the intended partnership should not be seen as a provocation.
Ukraine's current warfare can be traced back to Kyiv's first pro-EU association bid last year despite objections from Russia and separatists.
In late June, Russia had warned of "serious consequences" when EU leaders at a Brussels summit signed an agreement to deepen ties with visiting leaders of Moldova, Georgia and war-torn Ukraine.
Russia on Thursday again denied accusations from Kyiv and NATO that Moscow had sent troops and heavy weapons to separatists in eastern Ukraine.
Moscow also said it would send another humanitarian convoy comprising 82 trucks into eastern Ukraine on Friday.