Permanent Representative of Ukraine to the United Nations Volodymyr Yelchenko says Kyiv invites an assessment mission of the UN Secretariat to Donbas to examine the situation in the east of Ukraine.

"We are ready to discuss the mandate and other aspects of such a [peacekeeping] operation. In order to analyze the situation on the ground we invite the assessment mission of the UN Secretariat to visit Ukraine," Yelchenko told UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon while presenting his credentials on January 4, the Permanent Mission of Ukraine to the UN said in a statement on its website.

One of the possible ways the UN could engage in the de-escalation of the conflict in Donbas would be the deployment of a peacekeeping operation there, Yelchenko said.

Opening a UN mission in support of the implementation of the Minsk peace agreements on Donbas could be another possible area for cooperation, Yelchenko said. This mission could be engaged in coordination of a land mine clearance operation in the east of Ukraine due to the UN's huge experience in that area, he added.

The parties also discussed the Ukrainian agenda at the UN Security Council.

Yelchenko said that one of Ukraine's priorities would be to promote consistent adherence to the UN Charter, in particular to the respect for territorial integrity and political independence of states. Moreover, he stressed that Ukraine would pay special attention to peace and security in Africa and the Middle East, the fight against terrorism, protection of civilians in armed conflicts, and nuclear non-proliferation.

Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko early in December 2015 appointed Yelchenko as Permanent Representative of Ukraine to the UN to replace Yuriy Sergeyev, who had worked in this position since 2007.

Yelchenko joined the New York City-based Permanent Mission of Ukraine to the UN late in December 2015.