Russia says it will recognise the results of controversial separatist elections in eastern Ukraine, which the rebels plan to hold on 2 November, reports GHN based on BBC.
Russia's Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said elections in the Donetsk and Luhansk regions "will be important to legitimise the authorities there".
A shaky truce is holding in both regions, where Ukrainian troops tried to oust pro-Russian rebels from power.
Pro-Western parties are leading after Ukraine's elections on Sunday.
Ukraine has urged Russia to put pressure on the separatists not to hold rival elections in the east.
But Mr Lavrov said "we expect the elections will go ahead as agreed, and we will of course recognise the results".