MOSCOW, November 2. /TASS/. Moscow considers elections in eastern Ukraine valid, the Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement on Sunday.

“The elections in the Donetsk and Luhansk regions were held in an organized way in general and with high voter turnout,” the ministry said.

“We respect the will expression of the citizens of the south-east.”

“The elected representatives have received a mandate to solve political tasks to restore normal life in the regions,” the statement says.

“Taking into consideration the elections, it is essential to take active steps to set up a sustainable dialogue between the central Ukrainian authorities and representatives of Donbass in line with agreements reached in Minsk,” the ministry stresses.

Moscow is “ready together with international partners to further contribute in a constructive way to the settlement of the crisis situation in Ukraine,” it says.