Russia's lower and upper houses of parliament pledged to vote into law the result of Crimea's March 16 referendum on becoming part of Russia.

The speakers of both the State Duma and Federation Council strongly implied that ratification would receive fast-track rubber-stamp approval if Crimeans, as is widely expected, vote to become part of Russia.

A delegation of Crimean MPs led by parliament speaker Vladimir Konstantinov received a standing ovation in the parliament when they visited Moscow.

"We will respect the historic choice of the people of Crimea," said State Duma speaker Sergei Naryshkin at a meeting with the Crimean delegation.

"We support the free and democratic choice of the population of Crimea," he added.

And MP Sergei Mironov of the Just Russia Party submitted draft legislation to the Duma to make it easier for Russia to incorporate part of a foreign country.

He said this could be passed by March 14, which would give parliament a full legal basis to accept Crimea's incorporation after the referendum.

"The Bill was written for Crimea, I say that openly," he declared.

The Crimean MPs won similar support from the Federation Council, Russia's upper house.

Council speaker Valentina Matviyenko said the decision by the Crimean parliament was "historic" and it had every legal right to take it.

"The decision is fully in line with international practice," she said.

"It is enough to look at Scotland - and you can find other examples."

"No-one says the Scotland referendum is illegal."

Kiev Interim Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk warned that "no-one in the civilised world" will recognise its referendum, calling the vote "unconstitutional" and "illegitimate."

Foreign ministers from Poland, Hungary, the Czech Republic and Slovakia met in the Estonian city of Narva and declared that the referendum violated Ukraine's constitution.