This was stated by Trace in an interview with The Telegraph.

According to Trass, talks are under way with allies on how to help small countries defend themselves in the light of "Russian President Vladimir Putin's ambitions."

"Putin has made clear his ambitions to expand Russia.

The fact that his attempts to take Kyiv were unsuccessful does not mean that he gave up these ambitions, ”Trass said.

The British minister stressed that the goal is to give Ukraine the opportunity to defend itself in the long run, but this also applies to other "vulnerable states", such as Moldova, which is also not a member of NATO.

Since late April, authorities in Transnistria, a pro-Russian unrecognized republic that is part of Moldova under international law, have repeatedly reported shelling in the region.

With Ukraine, Moldova has a total area of ​​1,200 kilometers.

There are fears that the war in Ukraine could spread to Moldovan territory.

About 1,500 Russian servicemen are based in Transnistria.

Moldova is not a member of the North Atlantic Alliance, but it applied to join the EU less than two weeks after this year's Russian invasion of Ukraine.

In May, European Council President

vowed to help increase military aid to Moldova.