Ukraine's Parliament. (Photo: World Bulletin)

(VOVworld) – By a vote of 288 to 57, Ukraine's parliament approved a bill Thursday granting the separatist regions of Donetsk and Lugansk greater autonomy. The bill was submitted to Parliament by President Petro Poroshenko, under pressure from Western nations to grant the areas some degree of self-rule as part of the ceasefire deal reached in Minsk in February. The bill will be sent to the constitutional court for review. If the court decides the bill accords with the constitution, it will be sent back to Parliament where it must receive no fewer than 300 votes for complete adoption.