U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry made a brief visit to Moldova Wednesday to show support for its decision to move closer to Europe.
Secretary Kerry was the first U.S. secretary of state to officially visit Moldova in more than 20 years, skipping a previously planned stop in Ukraine, which backed out of a European Union trade deal.
Kerry said the Moldovan government seized a "historic opportunity" to cement a European future for its people. He called European integration the best road for security and prosperity.
Russia is angry that Moldova chose to align itself with the European Union rather than Moscow.
It has responded by cutting off imports of Moldovan wine, a major source of revenue for one of Europe's poorest countries.
Secretary Kerry stopped in a Moldovan winery as part of his visit.
Secretary Kerry was the first U.S. secretary of state to officially visit Moldova in more than 20 years, skipping a previously planned stop in Ukraine, which backed out of a European Union trade deal.
Kerry said the Moldovan government seized a "historic opportunity" to cement a European future for its people. He called European integration the best road for security and prosperity.
Russia is angry that Moldova chose to align itself with the European Union rather than Moscow.
It has responded by cutting off imports of Moldovan wine, a major source of revenue for one of Europe's poorest countries.
Secretary Kerry stopped in a Moldovan winery as part of his visit.