"This news (about the request) has just come in. The president has been informed," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told the official ITAR-TASS news agency, adding there was nothing more to say for now.

On Thursday, the Supreme Council of the Crimea on its session made a fundamental decision for the Autonomous Republic of the Crimea to join Russia as a federal subject, First Deputy Prime Minister of Crimea Rustam Temirgaliyev told Itar-Tass.

The Supreme Council of the Crimea has decided to hold a referendum on the Crimea's status on March 16, Temirgaliev added.

Two issues are supposed to be discussed on the referendum.

"The first one is as follows – whether you support the annexation of the Crimea to the Russian Federation. The second one is – whether you support the reestablishment of the Crimea’s constitution of 1992," Temirgaliev stated.

The Crimea's constitution of 1992 stipulates that the Crimea, being a republic, is a part of Ukraine, but it defines its relationships with the country by means of the contract and agreements.

NJF/NJF