Russia said today it respected the outcome of a referendum on self-rule in two east Ukrainian regions and that the results should be implemented peacefully.

Pro-Russian rebels declared a landslide victory in Sunday's referendum held in Ukraine's Donetsk and Luhansk regions. The Urkainian authorities dismissed the vote as a farce and the European Union criticised the referendum.

"In Moscow, we respect the will of the people of the Donetsk and Luhansk regions and are counting on practical implementation of the outcome of the referendum in a civilised manner, without any repeat of violence and through dialogue," the Kremlin said in a statement.