Merkel hopes Moldova isn't in Russia's sights after Ukraine

BERLIN (Reuters) - Germany's Angela Merkel said on Thursday she hoped Russia's Vladimir Putin would not try the same strategy in Moldova as he had in Ukraine, and expressed support for the country's efforts to forge stronger ties with Europe, to Moscow's chagrin.

The chancellor, asked at a news conference with visiting Romanian President Klaus Iohannis whether she thought there was a risk that Romania's eastern neighbour could be in Moscow's sights, replied: "Well, we hope not."