Russia has praised Ukraine's law on self-rule for the war-torn east of the country as a "step in the right direction".
It has expressed the hope it would be thoroughly implemented.
Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko formally submitted a bill to parliament yesterday offering limited self-rule for the separatist east.
The legislation is part of a peace plan signed with pro-Russian insurgents on 5 September aimed at ending five months of bloody conflict.
Under the proposals announced by Mr Poroshenko, the rebel-held Luhansk and Donetsk regions will be granted broader autonomy for three years.
They will also be able to use Russian in state institutions and conduct local elections on 9 November.
The bill further permits the regions to "strengthen good neighbourly relations" between local authorities and their counterparts in Russia.
The bill also promises to help restore damaged infrastructure and to provide social an economic assistance to particularly hard-hit areas.
"In Russia this document is considered as a step in the right direction," the Russian Foreign Ministry said.
"We expect that all stipulations of the law will be implemented in a responsible manner."
Meanwhile, two civilians were killed in fighting in Donetsk, where fierce battles were raging near the airport this morning.
Donetsk city council said the two civilians were killed and another three injured near a market, which had also been a target of heavy shelling earlier this week.
A total of 30 civilians and soldiers have been killed in eastern Ukraine since the truce was signed on 5 September.
