France, May 20 -- Moldova, one of Europe's poorest countries, has stepped up its push towards joining the EU since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. The former Soviet republic was granted EU candidate status the same year.

Moldova has strongly backed Ukraine, while trying to maintain its constitutional neutrality.

The country is under pressure from Moscow and dealing with instability linked to Transnistria, a pro-Russian region which split from Moldova after a short war in the early 1990s following the collapse of the Soviet Union - and where Russian troops remain stationed.

It is internationally recognised as part of Moldova but has long relied on Russian political, military and economic support.

Many Moldov...