CHISINAU, February 3. /TASS/. The majority of Moldovan citizens are against joining NATO and integrating into neighboring Romania, according to the results of a poll conducted in January by CBS Research among 1,001 respondents.

"In case of a referendum on NATO membership, 55.5% of Moldovans would vote against such a step, with 26.9% of citizens supporting joining the alliance. At the same time, if a referendum on integration into Romania were held, 52.2% of citizens would vote against it and 36.2% would vote for it," the pollsters said at a Friday briefing.

In January, Moldovan President Maia Sandu told the Politico newspaper that she did not rule out that in the context of the Ukrainian crisis, the country might abandon its policy of neutrality enshrined in the constitution and join NATO. At the same time, she stressed that this decision should be made by citizens, exerting their democratic will through a referendum. Sandu also expressed interest in intensifying cooperation with NATO to rearm the Moldovan army. This position was supported by other pro-European politicians, who believe that the neutral status was thrust upon Moldova after the Transnistrian conflict. The authorities of the unrecognized Transnistria, the Gagauz autonomous region leadership and opposition parties sharply criticized the government's plans for rapprochement with NATO. Former Moldovan President Igor Dodon then said that the authorities intended to turn the country’s population into "cannon fodder for NATO in the fight against Russia."