The results from Moldova's knife-edge EU referendum in favour of the country joining the block deals a blow to Russian President Putin.

Moldova’s referendum on its future in the EU was a nail-biter until the very last moment. On election night, president Maia Sandu held an emergency press conference stating the country’s democracy faced an “unprecedented assault by foreign forces.

The European Union has condemned Russia's attempts to sway the outcome of the presidential election and the referendum on Moldova's European accession, promising to continue to support the country's democratic progress.