Two countries, Moldova and Georgia, hold pivotal votes in the coming days that will decide their future path in Europe. Both have both felt the shadow of Russia’s war in Ukraine, and both are former Soviet republics.

Moldova's citizens vote on Sunday in a presidential election and an EU referendum that come at a pivotal moment in the tussle between Russia and the West for the future of the poor, landlocked southeast European nation of under 3 million people.

Long torn over closer ties with the European Union or maintaining Soviet-era relations with Moscow, Moldova faces a decisive choice in Sunday's presidential elections held under the shadow of war in neighbouring Ukraine.

Russia is seeking to undermine Moldova's upcoming presidential election and has spent millions of dollars on its efforts to do so, the White House said Tuesday.

The Kremlin is desperate to return Moldova to its sphere of influence, but its meddling is no longer working.