NEW YORK (UN), Feb. 5 – United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has welcomed a proposal of OSCE Chairperson Ivica Dacic to introduce a temporary ceasefire near Debaltseve in Donetsk region of Ukraine to evacuate civilians from the dangerous battle areas.

"The Secretary-General stands with others in the international community in support of the proposal by the Chairperson-in-Office of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe for a temporary truce that would allow for the immediate evacuation of civilians from Debaltseve," secretary general's press service quotes his statement.