The Secretary General of the United Nations, Ban Ki-moon, speaking this morning by phone with President-elect of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko, congratulated him on his victory at the presidential elections and welcomed his statements to immediately engage in dialogue and de-escalation.

"The Secretary-General said that he was encouraged by Mr. Poroshenko's commitment to de-escalation and dialogue [between conflicting parties], which will be critical within Ukraine, as well as with its neighbors," says a readout of Secretary General's telephone conversation with Poroshenko.

Ban Ki-moon also congratulated Poroshenko "on having received a strong mandate from the people, who expect him to move quickly to steer the country away from political, economic and social instability and towards security, greater prosperity and genuine democratic governance."