Russian president Vladimir Putin will address the Federation Council on March 18 on Crimea issue, State Duma Vice Speaker of the Ivan Melnikov told reporters.

The message on Crimea is scheduled for 3p.m., he said.

The Crimean parliament has formally applied to Russia to become a part of the Russian Federation.

According to official data, the voter turnout was 82.71 percent, and 96.6 percent of those who participated in the referendum expressed support for Crimea’s joining Russia.