MOSCOW, February 12 (RIA Novosti) - Moldova and its breakaway region of Transdnestr should put aside any thoughts of unilateral solutions in order to restore confidence in the region, the Russian Foreign Ministry said Thursday.

"Coming to a consensus on giving up unilateral solutions and any form of pressure and resolving all disputed issues exclusively through peaceful political means should contribute to the restoration of trust in the region and the implementation of practical steps to meet each other halfway," the ministry said after talks between Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and Transdnestr President Igor Smirnov.

The ministry said the way to resolve the current deadlock should be sought on the basis of the sides' equal rights to negotiate a viable settlement.

Transdnestr, which has a largely Russian-speaking population, declared its independence from Moldova in 1990. Russia has had peacekeepers in the rebel province since July 1992.

Trandnestr is pressing Moldova for independence, but Moldova only offers the rebel region broad autonomy.