The EU criticized a plan by Russian MPs on Tuesday to have President Vladimir Putin recognize the self-proclaimed Donestk and Lugansk Peoples' Republics as autonomous, saying it would contravene the Minsk agreements signed by Moscow.

"The EU strongly condemns the Russian State Duma's decision to submit a call to President Putin to recognize the non-government-controlled areas of Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts of Ukraine as independent entities," EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell tweeted.

"This recognition would be a clear violation of the Minsk agreements," he said.

The agreements were signed in 2014 and 2015 to end the confrontations in the Donbas area of eastern Ukraine.

Earlier Tuesday, the Russian State Duma voted in favor of a draft resolution recognizing the Lugansk and Donetsk republics and the independence of Donbas, citing Kiev's non-adherence to the Minsk agreements.

Separately, NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg warned against any recognition of the two regions.

Stoltenberg told journalists that "if that happens, that will be a blatant violation of Ukraine's territorial integrity and sovereignty once again."

"There is no doubt that Donetsk and Luhansk is part of Ukraine within internationally recognized borders. So such recognition will be a violation of international law."