CRI听力:Russia Backs Choice of Ukraine's Donetsk, Lugansk

The self-proclaimed Donetsk People's Republic has celebrated their newly claimed independence with a spectacle of fireworks outside the Donetsk administration building.

Denis Pushilin, co-chair of the Donetsk People's Republic.

"Basing itself on the will of the people of the Donetsk People's Republic and seeking the restoration of historic justice we ask the Russian Federation to consider the merger of the Donetsk People's Republic within the Russian Federation."

He has reiterated his claim that Donetsk is now a sovereign state and has called on Russia to merge with the Donetsk region.

Moscow says it will respect the choice of the people in the region, and is calling for political dialogue.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov.

"Russia's wish is that the implementation of the referendum takes place through dialogue and non-violence, between the representatives of Kiev, Donetsk, and Lugansk, in order to avoid another violent clash. Moscow is happy to push forward the dialogue, including through the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe."

Sergei Lavrov has also blamed the United States and Ukraine for hampering the release of proposals on solving the Ukrainian crisis drafted by the OSCE.

In the meantime, China has called for a solution to the Ukrainian crisis under a framework of law and order.

Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying.

"China has always followed the policy of no interference in the internal affairs of others. China respects Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity. China advocates the resolution of Ukraine's issues should involve fully weighing and considering the concerns and interests of all the parties involved and that relevant differences should be addressed under a framework of law and order."

Sunday's referendums, however, have drawn criticism from Kiev and the West, which rejected the self-rule votes as illegal.

The United States and its European allies say that they do not recognize the referendums held in Donetsk and Lugansk in favor of independence.

White House spokesperson Jay Carney

"So, we do not recognize the results and you have seen the European Union and other leaders say the same.　In addition, we're disappointed that the Russian government did not use its influence to forestall these referendums according to President Putin's call on May 7 for them to be postponed."

Following the Foreign Affairs Council meeting Monday, the European Union says that referendums in eastern Ukraine are "illegitimate."

Kiev has also rejected the referendums, saying the recent events are a Russian plan aimed at destabilizing the situation in his country.

For CRI, This is Xie Zhao.