The heads of Russia's two houses of parliament have said they will support Crimea if the region votes to leave Ukraine in a referendum on 16 March.
After meeting visiting Crimean MPs, Federation Council Speaker Valentina Matviyenko said the peninsula would be welcome as an equal part of Russia.
The interim government in Kiev has denounced the vote as "illegitimate".
Meanwhile, Russia's state-owned energy company, Gazprom, has warned Ukraine that its gas supply might be cut off.
CEO Alexei Miller said it was owed $1.89bn (£1.13bn) and warned: "Either Ukraine makes good on its debt and pays for current supplies, or there is risk of returning to the situation of early 2009."
Gazprom halted supplies to Ukraine for almost two weeks in 2009, a move that caused shortages in Europe.
Ukrainian officials have said the state has come close to bankruptcy since protesters ousted President Viktor Yanukovych at the end of February and pro-Russian forces took control of Crimea last week.
Officials say $35bn (£21bn) is needed to get through this year and 2015.
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