WASHINGTON — Russia’s war on Ukraine has exposed a host of new threats for the tiny, landlocked nation of Moldova, which has grappled with an influx of Ukrainian refugees while maintaining a total dependence on Russian gas.

Moldova is Eastern Europe’s smallest country, having a population just under 3 million people and a slightly greater landmass than Maryland. It was overtaken by hundreds of thousand of civilians fleeing Russia’s continuing military campaign in just two months.

The Moldovan Minister for Foreign Affairs Nicu Popescu said that “Officially, we can not compare ourselves to Ukraine and the tragedy which Ukraine is going through,” at a meeting of think-tank specialists held by the German Marshall Fund, Washington, D.C., April 19.

Popescu said, “But we’re the weakest neighbor to Ukraine because we’re the country most affected by the conflict and have the least resources to address it.”

Popescu stated that there were more than 400,000 Russian citizens fleeing the Russian President after wrapping a series meetings last week at the State Department Vladimir Putin’sMoldavian war has engulfed the country.

Popescu stated, “We have let everybody in because they’re escaping war,” adding that Moldova has relaxed visa and entry requirements for Ukrainian citizens and is working on long-term access health care.

Popescu declared, “This is faster than ever, and it’s much more significant than anything else that we have seen,” adding that Moldova’s stability has been threatened by the refugee crisis.

Moldova is now in an unstable position due to the ongoing conflict next door. It was a former Soviet republic, and it’s one of Europe’s poorest countries.

The country filled out a questionnaire to apply for membership in the European Union last week, hoping that it would mitigate Moldova’s vulnerability. Russian officials have suggested that Russian war might be expanding to other countries as part of the application process.

Russian commander Rustam Minnekayev declared Friday that Moscow wants “full command” over eastern and south Ukraine.

Minnekayev stated that the Kremlin would be able to capture this area of Russia to establish a land corridor from Russia to the east, Transnistria and Crimea. This is the peninsula at the Black Sea which Russia annexed in 2014 from Ukraine.

Igor Zhovkva is deputy head for the Ukrainian Presidential Office Volodymyr Zilenskyy and was asked questions about a possible Russian invasion in Moldova. told NBC’s “Meet the Press”The possibility that Russian troops could move into Moldova is very real.

They want the entire Donbas to be captured. Zhovkva confirmed to NBC that they do want the link between the Crimea and Donbas. Zhovkva said, “As far Moldova is concerned. Yes, we heard those announceds by Russian officials.” “Who knows? Russia’s future is unknown, however it could very well be possible.

Moldawien’s dependence solely on Russian gas supply only adds to its vulnerability at the frontlines of Eastern Europe.

Popescu claimed that Moldova receives 100% of its natural gas supplies from Russia. 80% of Moldova’s electricity is supplied by Transnistria, an armed region of Russia controlled from borders touching Ukraine or Moldova.

Popescu stated that “we are very, very vulnerable in the energy resilience front,” adding that Moldova’s geography limits its international trade access.

He stated that “we used to import quite the amount of goods from Ukraine as well as quite a few through Ukraine from Odesa port, which was the cheapest way of shipping, but that’s all stopped now.” He also said that Moldova is actively working towards establishing new trade relations.