Moldova, eyeing Ukraine, divided on Europe integration as election nears

CHISINAU (Reuters) - An election in ex-Soviet Moldova next weekend will decide how closely it sticks to its path of European integration in defiance of Russia, as neighbouring Ukraine struggles to handle a war triggered by following a similar pro-Europe line.

The country - one of Europe's smallest and poorest on the western rim of the old Soviet Union - has moved closer to the European mainstream than any other ex-Soviet republic, barring the Baltic states.