"The situation in Ukraine has been a source of deep concern for all international community, not to mention the people of Ukraine and the countries and people in the region. This situation in Ukraine has very serious global implications. That is why the whole world, particularly the European Union and America and Russia, they have been heavily engaged," Ban said in his end of the year press conference.
Turning to the economic impact, Ban said the crisis "has impacted very seriously, politically and economically. It is going to impact the regional economic situation. Therefore I am again urging the parties should sit down together to abide fully the letter and spirit of Minsk protocol and memorandum. This was the result of very intensive consultations and negotiations with facilitation of many important regional countries. I am urging them again to really abide by this."
On the UN itself, Ban said on Wednesday that the Human Rights Monitoring Mission will continue next year.
"The mandate was until December, or this month, but it has been extended. We will try to mobilize humanitarian assistance to deliver all this assistance to whoever may be in need," he concluded.
