Moldovan leader vetoes plan to join NATO-led drill

By Ilker Girit

ISTANBUL (AA) - Moldova’s president on Wednesday suspended a government decision to send troops to join an upcoming international military exercise in Ukraine.

Igor Dodon, writing on social media, said Moldova was a neutral state and its army personnel "should not take part in military exercises conducted under the aegis of any military bloc".

The pro-Russian president used his constitutional authority for the first time to suspend "acts of the government that are contrary to the law," Dodon’s statement read.

NATO's routine Rapid Trident drills, involving 14 NATO member states -- including Turkey -- will begin on Friday in Ukraine's western region of Lvov, running until Sept. 23.

The drills in Ukraine coincide with major Russian manoeuvers in neighboring Belarus, called Zapad 2017, which begin on Sept. 14. Russian forces in the exclave of Kaliningrad, adjacent to Poland and Lithuania, will also be active.