Valery Nesterushkin, a Russian Foreign Ministry ambassador at large, said the move from Russia, Ukraine and the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe might come in September.
"The mediators advanced an initiative to meet in Odessa in late September to try to kick start the negotiating process," Nesterushkin said. "It is time [we] ended the hiatus in the parties' dialogue, and started working seriously on a mutually acceptable resolution model."
Nesterushkin said if the meeting took place, the sides might agree at it to send official invitations to the U.S. and EU to join the established format of talks as observers. "In this case, the next round of the negotiating process will be held with a new line-up," he said.
The diplomat said Moldova had put forward the initiative. At first, Transdnestr leader Igor Smirnov was skeptical about the idea, but Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko convinced him in Kiev in July that the participation of the U.S. and EU could be useful.
Nesterushkin said the powers and functions of the new partners were being coordinated.
