West watches for Putin's next move after breakaway region asks Moscow to 'protect' it from Moldova

The West is watching Russian President Vladimir Putin's next move closely after pro-Russian officials in the breakaway region of Transnistria in Moldova appealed to Moscow for "protection" against the Moldovan authorities.

Russia's Foreign Ministry responded Wednesday by saying protecting that the interests of the residents of Transnistria — calling them "compatriots" — was one of Russia's priorities and that it would carefully consider the request, the ministry told RIA Novosti.

Analysts believed that Putin could use his state-of-the-nation address — an overview of the current situation in the country, and Russia's goals at home and abroad — to make an announcement about Transnistria. However, he was tight-lipped Thursday about the region in eastern Moldova that Russia has backed since the collapse of the Soviet Union.

The self-proclaimed pro-Russian authorities of Transnistria held a congress of senior officials Wednesday, at which they asked Moscow to implement measures to protect Transnistria — a region also known as Transdniestria or Pridnestrovie — and its economy against an alleged threat from Moldova, which has been aiming to reintegrate the region.

"There is social and economic pressure on Transdniestria, which directly contradicts European principles and approaches to the protection of human rights and free trade," read the text of a resolution from the meeting, Reuters reported.

The document was addressed to Russia's parliament, the Federal Assembly, asking it "to implement measures to protect Pridnestrovie [Transnistria] in the context of increasing pressure from Moldova," news agency Tass reported.

The request, officials said, was made "taking into account the fact of permanent residence on the territory of the