The British foreign minister, James Cleverly, said on Thursday that the best way to protect Moldova from attack by Russia was to protect Ukraine.

Reuters reports that asked by reporters whether Britain planned on sending military support to Moldova, Cleverly said: “We strongly believe that one of the best ways of protecting Moldova from physical attack is helping the Ukrainians defend themselves against Russia.”

Earlier the Kremlin said it regretted Moldova’s “unjustified prejudice” against Moscow, and that Russia remained open to good relations.