Russia's Foreign Ministry said on Wednesday it had ordered two Moldovan diplomats to leave Russia within five days, a move it said was retaliation for Moldova's expulsion of two Russian diplomats.

"The Russian side has expressed hope that Chisinau recognizes that its unfriendly actions are counterproductive," the Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

A spokeswoman for the Moldovan Foreign Ministry announced the initial expulsions on Tuesday without disclosing a reason.

"We cannot provide any details on the issue," spokeswoman Ana Samson said in comments carried by Moldovan state news agency Moldpres.

Moldova, a small country wedged between Ukraine and Romania, has an East-West cultural, linguistic and political split.

Its figurehead president, Igor Dodon, elected in November, has called for closer ties with Moscow and said he would like to cancel a deal binding Moldova closer to the EU, sparking outrage from pro-Western politicians.

Speculation has swirled that the Russian diplomats were expelled amid a spat between pro-EU officials and Moldova's pro-Russian president, Igor Dodon, who was inaugurated in December.

Dodon has condemned the expulsions and said he would discuss them during a visit to the Russian city of St Petersburg this week.

"I found out about this decision from the Moldovan ambassador to the Russian Federation," Dodon said in comments carried by Moldpres on Tuesday.