Ukraine's ex-prime minister Mykola Azarov has called on the Ukrainians to suspend conflicts for the period of the Winter Games in Sochi.

"Today, on the opening day of the Winter Olympic Games, I want to address via my page all the Ukrainian citizens. For a long time conflicts would stop during the course of the Olympic Games. Let us follow that tradition and use this time to finally resolve the existing standoff in the spirit of consent and compromise," Azarov wrote on his Facebook page on Friday.

Protraction and deeper confrontation will lead to serious economic losses and social destabilization, he said.

The ex-prime minister wished luck and victories to the Ukrainian athletes.