Referendum in eastern Ukraine illegitimate: EU

The European Union said the local referenda in eastern Ukraine last weekend was "illegitimate" following the Foreign Affairs Council meeting Monday.

"The EU will not recognise yesterday's nor any future illegitimate and illegal referenda," Xinhua quoted a statement as saying Monday.

The EU strongly supports the holding of free and fair Ukrainian Presidential elections May 25, and calls on all parties to do so, the statement said.

Meanwhile, the Council has taken note of the recent declarations from the Russian president on the presidential elections in Ukraine and expects support for these on May 25.

Russian President Vladimir Putin described the Ukrainian presidential elections as "a step in the right direction," but warned they alone will not solve the problems unless all citizens of that country feel their rights secured last Wednesday, during a meeting with President of the Swiss Confederation Didier Burkhalter in Moscow.

In Sunday's referendum in Ukraine's eastern Donetsk and Lugansk regions, around 90 percent of people voted in favour of independence from central government in Kiev, according to the polls.