Ukraine calls its ambassador to Moldova Ivan Hnatyshin to Kyiv for consultations, the press secretary of the president of Ukraine wrote on Facebook .
This happened the day after the first round of presidential elections in Moldova, where pro-Russian candidate of the Party of Socialists Igor Dodon won with more than 48% of the vote.
Earlier, Dodon has stated that he recognized Crimea a part of Russia during a televised debate.
LB.ua previously reported in the article "Ukrainian issue in the presidential race in Moldova" that Kyiv harbors a grudge against the statement of a presidential runner of Moldova and are not ready to close eyes at the neighbor's lack of respect for its territorial integrity.
The hurt feelings may explain Ukraine's move to summon its ambassador to Moldova.
"The apologies of Chisinau do not alleviate the danger of deterioration of the Ukrainian-Moldovan relations in case of victory of pro-Russian candidate. If the current scandal caused by word of Dodon the Presidential Runner, the behavior of Dodon the President, who now is not questioning the territorial integrity of neighboring countries, are unlikely to remain unanswered by Ukraine. For example, Kyiv is contemplating, according to LB.ua information, the option of recalling Ukrainian ambassador from Chisinau for consultations (after the first or second round, depending on the results)," the article reads.
In addition, Dodon pledged to restore full economic relations with Russia, cancel the agreement on association with the European Union in a referendum and develop the countries, based on Orthodoxy as "the moral core of Moldovans."
In turn, the leader of the opposition Party of action and solidarity Maia Sandu, who will be Dodon's rival in the second round, sees the future of Moldova's with the European Union.