LONDON, May 11 -- The British Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) on Sunday said in a statement that it "regrets" the referendum in Ukraine.

Commenting on referendums held Sunday in Ukraine, a FCO spokesperson claimed to be "regrettable," adding that Ukrainians will have "a proper opportunity to express their democratic choice in the forthcoming presidential elections" in Ukraine on May 25.

"The UK agrees that we should all work together to restore stability, security and prosperity in the region," the spokesperson noted.

Local residents in Ukraine's eastern Donetsk and Lugansk regions went to vote on Sunday in referendums aimed at seeking independence from the country.

If the majority of local population votes to leave Ukraine, organizers plan to hold a second round on May 18 to ask voters whether they want to join Russia.

The referendums were held after Crimea joined Russia on March 18 following an independence referendum in the region, which was not recognized by the West.

On Wednesday, Russian President Vladimir Putin asked the protesters in Donetsk and Lugansk to postpone their referendums and seek dialogue with Ukrainian authorities, but the protesters ignored the plea.