MOSCOW, March 17. /ITAR-TASS/. The Russian Federation is prepared to discuss with the West any problems pertaining to Ukraine, except for the results of Sunday's referendum, MP Vyacheslav Timchenko, who is First Deputy Head of the United Russia faction at the State Duma, declared on Monday.

"We are prepared to carry on a broad dialogue with our Western partners on a big range of issues pertaining to Ukraine, including economic assistance to Ukraine. We are ready to discuss anything except the results of the referendum, which are unquestionable. The people of Crimea have had their say of tangible importance. Judging by the fact of the referendum, Crimea has become the Russian land since today," Timchenko declared.

"It was the only correct decision under the existing circumstances. It was not a matter of someone's choice. It was a question put by Shakespeare's Hamlet -"to be or not to be",Timchenko stressed.

He expects Russia to adopt all the necessary resolutions on Crimea's accession to Russia in the near future, including on the fate of the Crimean Tatars. 

Chairwoman of the State Duma Committee on Security Irina Yarovaya challenged representatives of a number of Western countries who said that they would not recognize the results of the Crimean referendum. "No more democratic process than a referendum exists in the world. The voting in Crimea was absolutely free, open and democratic. The results of the voting have shown that the people have made their choice in favor of reunification with Russia," Yarovaya declared. "The reluctance of the West to recognize the results of the referendum actually means non-recognition of democracy," Yarovaya said.

According to the results of the referendum, a total of 96.77% of the Crimean population who took part in the referendum have voted for Crimea's reunification with Russia.