Russian President Vladimir Putin will address both houses of parliament on Tuesday over Crimea's vote to leave Ukraine and become part of Russia, the Kremlin and lawmakers said.
"The speech of the president with an address on Crimea has been scheduled for 3 pm (1100 GMT)," Ivan Melnikov, the first deputy speaker of the lower house, the State Duma, said in parliament Monday.
The Kremlin confirmed his statement, although the contents of Putin's address has not been revealed.
On Sunday, an overwhelming 96.6 percent of voters on the Russian-speaking peninsula chose to join Russia in a referendum the West and Ukraine's new leaders have condemned as illegal.
The authorities in Moscow and ordinary Russians have appeared unfazed by the threat of Western sanctions and international isolation as lawmakers pledged to swiftly incorporate Crimea.
State Duma speaker Sergei Naryshkin said Russia will recognise Crimea's independence from Ukraine in a special treaty.
Lawmakers said they would accelerate procedures to allow Crimea to join Russia and fast-track bills to give out Russian passports to local residents.
"All necessary legislative decisions following the results of the referendum will be taken as soon as possible," said another deputy speaker Sergei Neverov.
In the wake of the vote, Crimea's pro-Moscow prime minister Sergiy Aksyonov said he was leaving for Moscow on Monday.
Russian President Vladimir Putin will address both houses of parliament on Tuesday over Crimea’s vote to leave Ukraine and become part of Russia, the Kremlin and lawmakers said.
“The speech of the president with an address on Crimea has been scheduled for 3 pm (1100 GMT),” Ivan Melnikov, the first deputy speaker of the lower house, the State Duma, said in parliament Monday.
The Kremlin confirmed his statement, although the contents of Putin’s address has not been revealed.
On Sunday, an overwhelming 96.6 percent of voters on the Russian-speaking peninsula chose to join Russia in a referendum the West and Ukraine’s new leaders have condemned as illegal.
The authorities in Moscow and ordinary Russians have appeared unfazed by the threat of Western sanctions and international isolation as lawmakers pledged to swiftly incorporate Crimea.
State Duma speaker Sergei Naryshkin said Russia will recognise Crimea’s independence from Ukraine in a special treaty.
Lawmakers said they would accelerate procedures to allow Crimea to join Russia and fast-track bills to give out Russian passports to local residents.
“All necessary legislative decisions following the results of the referendum will be taken as soon as possible,” said another deputy speaker Sergei Neverov.
In the wake of the vote, Crimea’s pro-Moscow prime minister Sergiy Aksyonov said he was leaving for Moscow on Monday.
