Moldovan President Maia Sandu shook up her government by appointing a top security adviser to be premier as the former Soviet republic bordering Ukraine confronts an increasingly perilous geopolitical environment.

Source: https://financialpost.com/pmn/business-pmn/moldovas-president-reshuffles-government-amid-security-risks

"Sometimes we just say those words, but they actually have real meaning and of course we know in this particular time they have even more resonance than usual," Blinken said in reference to Russia's invasion of Ukraine, also a former Soviet republic.

Source: https://gazette.com/news/us-world/blinken-holds-talks-with-central-asian-nations-in-wake-of-ukraine-anniversary/article_52fac51d-6d21-58dd-be1f-3ae43c5078e5.html

Unlike fellow former Soviet republic Belarus, Central Asian nations haven’t rallied behind Moscow over the struggle.

Source: https://basquiatstrings.co.uk/blinken-backs-kazakhstan-sovereignty-as-ukraine-raises-fears-bt-news