CHISINAU. Feb 20 (Interfax) - Moldova needs NATO to help it acquire air defense systems, the country's President Maia Sandu said at the Munich Security Conference on Saturday.
"Our biggest problem now is the need for air defense. This is necessary not only for Moldova, but for the whole region as well. And we are asking our NATO partners to take into account this type of assistance that we need urgently," Sandu was quoted by her press service as saying at a discussion attended by NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg.
She also requested help "with countering Russian propaganda."
Sandu also met with United States Secretary of State Antony Blinken on the sidelines of the conference, the press service said.
"We talked about the security issues facing us and the whole region and the efforts Moldovan authorities are making to strengthen rule of law, modernize the economy and ensure safety for our citizens," Sandu said on social media. She thanked the U.S. "for providing Moldova with full assistance."
For his part, Blinken praised Sandu for the way she runs her country at such a challenging time, the press service said. He also expressed concern over what he said were Russia's attempts to destabilize the situation in Moldova, and hailed Moldova's efforts to counter that.
Finally, Blinken pledged U.S. further support for Moldova to preserve its security, independence and territorial integrity.