During the 1997-98 academic year I was on sabbatical assignment in Eastern Europe.   I studied family, culture, and the status of social services in the Republic of Moldova, nestled between the Ukraine and Romania.

On the map it is grey-colored and has a "boot" shape similar to Italy.
From the map it is clear that as the boundaries are currently it is land-locked.  During the Soviet period the border with Romania was strictly closed and there was virtually no exchange, either cultural or monetary, between the "Moldavian Soviet Socialist Republic" and Romania or any other non-Soviet entity.  In 1991 full independence was proclaimed as the USSR was collapsing and currently the Republic of Moldova is a member of the CIS (Commonwealth of Independent States) and has signed NATO's Partnership for Peace agreement.

If you are interested in this topic, please explore some of the following links.  I will enjoy hearing from anyone by e-mail who has interest or experience in this area of Europe.