SOCHI, Russia: Russia will encourage separatists in ex-Soviet Moldova to strike a deal with the government there, a Kremlin aide said on Tuesday, as Moscow moves to shore up its reputation after the Georgia conflict.

Russia's decision to send troops into Georgia has provoked both Western condemnation and fears that it could launch similar action in other former Soviet states with separatist regions.

Moscow has recognised South Ossetia and Abkhazia - two breakaway, pro-Russian provinces of Georgia - as independent states, although no other country has yet followed its lead. Russia says it sent in troops to protect the regions from Georgian aggression.

Sergei Prikhodko, chief foreign policy adviser to Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, said Moscow was committed to a different policy for Moldova and its separatist Transdniestria region.

"Our position is to support the efforts of President (Vladimir) Voronin in the Transdniestria peace process, and the readiness of Russia to offer help was recently expressed," he told reporters.

"To continue our efforts, we are preparing for a serious discussion with (separatist leader Vladimir) Smirnov in the next few days," he said.

A separate Kremlin source said Medvedev's meeting with Smirnov could take place on Wednesday in the Russian leader's Black Sea residence in Sochi.

Smirnov has suggested Russia should recognise his breakaway region after cementing the secession of Abkhazia and South Ossetia from Georgia.

Some analysts suggested that after sending troops into Georgia, Moscow wants to show the world it can resolve another "frozen conflict" more amicably.

The EU and the United States have led international criticism of what they say was a "disproportionate" response from Moscow to an attempt by Tbilisi to retake South Ossetia by force.

They say the continuing presence of Russian troops on undisputed Georgian territory is in violation of a ceasefire agreement.

Transdniestria has close parallels with South Ossetia and Abkhazia. Like the Georgian regions, it broke away from central rule in fighting in the early 1990s, with Russian help. Russia has had peacekeeping troops based there since then

Medvedev, who met Voronin in Sochi on August 25,told him he saw "good prospects" for reaching a deal with the separatists.

Source : Reuters