French President Emmanuel Macron has told the presidents of Georgia and Moldova -- each facing Russia-backed separatist regions in their own country -- that France would support them "against any tension or destabilization attempt."
"We stand with Moldova and Georgia to defend their sovereignty and security," the Elysee Palace quoted Macron as telling them in phone calls on February 26.
Macron voiced his "determination to support our partners in the Eastern neighborhood" of the European Union "against any attempt [to cause] tensions and destabilization," it said.
Georgian President Salome Zurabishvili is scheduled to travel to Paris early next week.
Georgian regions Abkhazia and South Ossetia declared independence following a brief war between Georgia and Russia in 2008.
Only Russia and a handful of other countries have recognized the two regions.
Moldova’s Transdniester region broke away from the central government following a brief war in 1992.
Russia maintains a military presence in the region despite the Moldovan government’s repeated calls for Russian troops to be replaced by international peacekeepers.
Some observers have accused Moscow recently of using Russian gas supplies to punish Moldovans for subsequently electing pro-Western President Maia Sandu over the Russia-backed Igor Dodon.
