Ukraine's Parliamentary Speaker and Acting President Oleksandr Turchynov proposed launching a joint operation with UN peacekeepers in the country's eastern regions, in telephone talks with UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon.

"Ukraine does not object to launching a counter-terrorism operation jointly with UN peacekeepers in the eastern regions," Turchynov told Ban, according to the Ukrainian parliament's press service.

Turchynov and Ban discussed the situation in the east of Ukraine, the press service said on Monday.

According to the Ukraine's acting president, the situation in Donetsk and Luhansk regions completely repeats "the scenario that Russia carried out in Crimea."

The situation in eastern Ukraine differs from the situation in Crimea "because most citizens do not want to support the separatists," Turchynov was quoted as saying.

He also said that a large-scale operation has been launched in order to protect civilians. "Ukrainian citizens wanted the authorities to protect them from terrorism and armed criminals. We cannot leave our citizens one-on-one with armed terrorists, who menace their lives and health, and why try to tear the country to pieces," he said.

The authorities are taking measures "that are expected to stabilize the situation in the region," Turchynov said.

The laws will be adjusted to decentralize the authorities, he said. "Specifically, the powers of the territorial communities will be largely expanded, the local councils will have powers to form executive agencies and the regions' financial and material independence will be broadened," he said.

Turchynov said that the authorities stand ready to cooperate with representatives of the public from all Ukrainian regions for the sake of establishing constructive dialogue. "But we will counter terrorism and Russian aggression," he said.

Ban said in turn that the authorities have taken steps that were needed to settle the situation in the country in general and in the east and south in particular.

He expressed his full support to Turchynov and to the people of Ukraine and pledged assistance from the UN as Ukraine's partner. He also said he would do all he can to help settle the situation peacefully.