Russian government spokesman Denis Molchanov said the Moscow cabinet discussed the issue of imposing trade sanctions against Moldova at a meeting on 16 March. "Maintaining or refusing certain preferences in trade with this country will depend on the political position Chisinau assumes on issues most important to Russia," Molchanov said, a transparent allusion to the status of Moldova's breakaway Transdniester region, a long standing bone of contention between the two countries.
