(MENAFN- Qatar News Agency) United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon will depart today for a visit to Russia and Ukraine as part of his diplomatic efforts to encourage all parties to resolve the current crisis peacefully, while the United Nations Security Council is set to meet in New York on the latest developments. Mr. Ban's first stop will be the Russian capital, Moscow, where he will meet on Thursday with President Vladimir Putin, Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and other senior officials, according to the Secretary-General's spokesperson, UN News Centre reported. On Friday, the UN chief will travel to Kiev, where he will hold talks with Acting President Oleksandr Turchynov, Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk and other officials. While in the Ukrainian capital, he will also meet with members of the UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission and representatives of civil society. Months of political unrest in Ukraine led to the removal by Parliament of President Viktor Yanukovych in February, followed by increased tensions in the country's autonomous region of Crimea, where additional Russian military were recently deployed and a secession referendum was held on Sunday. Throughout the crisis, the Secretary-General and senior UN officials have consistently called for a solution that is guided by the principles of the UN Charter and that respects Ukraine's unity, sovereignty and territorial integrity
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