KIEV, March 11 ??“ Ukraine will shortly take steps to try to persuade leaders of TransDnistria, Moldova??™s breakaway republic, to resume multilateral talks aimed at settling a growing regional conflict, President Viktor Yushchenko said Saturday.

Ukraine invited top TransDnistrian officials to Kiev for consultations to ease standoff at the border between the two after Ukraine had effectively blocked TransDnistrian exports more than a week ago.