Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has said that Moscow plans to recognise parliamentary elections held by Ukraine on Sunday, although it would wait for the verdict of OSCE observers.

Speaking in a televised interview Lavrov said he hoped a “constructive government” would be formed in Kyiv:

“I think we will recognise the results of this election because it is very important for us and for Ukraine to finally have authorities that are not fighting each other or involved in a tug-of-war between the west and the east, but rather will deal with the real issues facing the country.”

Lavrov also said Russia plans to recognise elections being held by rebels in the self-proclaimed people’s republics of Donetsk and Luhansk on November 2.

Over four million people did not participate in Sunday’s elections in these areas and in Crimea, annexed by Russia in March.

Western leaders had urged Russia not to recognise the November 2 elections.

British Prime Minister David Cameron warned “any elections organised by separatists would be considered illegal, would contravene the Minsk agreement and would not be recognised by the UK”.