MOSCOW, March 17. /TASS/. Moscow expects that Kiev will sooner or later recognize the outcome of the referendum which led to Crimea’s reunification with Russia, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters on Friday.

"We hope that sooner or later Kiev will show respect for the decision made by the Crimean people and recognize the outcome of the plebiscite as it was caused by events taking place in Kiev which had created serious threats for the Crimeans," Peskov said.

"We would welcome if Kiev adopted a more sober approach towards events that took place when the Crimeans voiced their will through the referendum," the Kremlin spokesman added. He pointed out that the decision to conduct a referendum was made by a body established in accordance with the Ukrainian law.

"Today we witness a civil war in some of Ukraine’s regions, the consequences are terrble for millions of Donbass residents. The Crimeans, who voted in favor of the reunification with Russia three years ago, actually saved their lives and, which is more important, their future," Peskov stressed. He also said that "we expect that sooner or later Kiev will understand it."

After Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovich was ousted in a coup in February 2014, mass protests began in Crimea and eastern Ukraine. On March 11, 2014, Crimea’s Supreme Council and Sevastopol City Council adopted a declaration of independence.

On March 16, 2014, a referendum on reuniting with Russia was conducted. Over 80% of voters participated in the plebiscite, most of them supporting the idea (96.7% in Crimea and 95.6% in the city of Sevastopol).

On March 18, the treaty on Crimea’s reunification with Russia was signed by President Vladimir Putin, Russia’s Federal Assembly (parliament) approved the document on March 21.