East Ukraine separatists seek union with Russia

A Ukrainian separatist leader is calling on Russia to "absorb" the eastern region of Donetsk after Sunday's referendum on self-rule.

Denis Pushilin, leader of the self-declared Donetsk People's Republic, said Moscow should listen to the "will of the people".

Russia has called for dialogue and "implementing" the result, but Ukraine and the EU declared the poll illegal.

The EU is imposing further sanctions over Russia's actions in Ukraine.

Separatists in Donetsk and Luhansk regions say 89% and 96% respectively voted in favour of "self-rule".

Mr Pushilin said that Ukrainian presidential elections, scheduled to take place on 25 April, would not happen in Donetsk because it was now "independent".

He added that he was not calling for Russian military intervention but that peacekeepers may be needed.

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Analysis

Steven RosenbergBBC News, Moscow

What is President Putin's end game?

Today's Kremlin statement on the referendums provides few clues. It is brief, calls for "dialogue" and peaceful "implementation" of the results of the vote.

I would argue Moscow's objectives are clear: to retain influence in at least part of Ukraine, to ensure that not all of Ukraine embraces the European Union or - Russia's biggest nightmare - Nato.

On Russian TV today, a prominent pro-Russia Ukrainian called on parts of eastern and southern Ukraine to form an independent state called Novorossiya (New Russia). Such a 'state' would inevitably be loyal to Moscow.

So, is Novorossiya part of the Kremlin's long-term plan to retain influence in a large part of Ukraine? Or does Moscow's shorter-term strategy have more to do with derailing the upcoming presidential elections in Ukraine?

With less than two weeks to go before those elections, if it does have a plan, the Kremlin may soon reveal it.

• Putin's next move?

The region would switch to the Russian currency, the rouble, he said.

Earlier the head of the rebel Donetsk election commission, Roman Lyagin, said joining Russia "would probably be an appropriate step".

Russia has called for dialogue between the militants and Kiev with the participation of the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe.

Two Crimean companies and 13 individuals have been added to the sanctions list - the names are likely to be announced officially within the next 24 hours, reports the BBC's Chris Morris in Brussels.

The sanctions impose travel bans and asset freezes. EU ministers are also discussing what might trigger a broader package of sanctions against the Russian economy.

In a brief statement, the Kremlin denounced what it claimed had been "attempts to disrupt the votes, with the use of force, including the use of heavy weapons, against civilians", says the BBC's Steve Rosenberg in Moscow.

The Russian authorities said they expected the results of the vote to be implemented in a civilised manner, without any repetition of violence and called for dialogue between Kiev, Donetsk and Luhansk.

Later Russia's Foreign Minister, Sergei Lavrov, said there were no plans to hold fresh international talks on the crisis - he accused the West of an "information blockade" over events in Ukraine and of "shameless lies".