KIEV, March 7 ??“ TransDnistria, Moldova??™s breakaway republic, said Tuesday it is pulling out from crucial multilateral talks over peaceful settlement of the conflict in response to Ukraine??™s recent decision to stop unauthorized trade.

Igor Smirnov, the leader of the self-proclaimed republic, accused Ukraine of siding up with Moldova in the conflict and suggested the country would have to be removed from the process before the talks resume.