UN Chief Warns 'No Military Solution' in Ukraine

The United Nations' Secretary General Ban Ki Moon warned on Tuesday that the Ukrainian crisis would not be solved through military force and urged Kiev and Moscow to recur to dialogue. 

Moon's remarks were directed at western governments, as NATO announced on Monday that it would be setting up a force for rapid deployment and regular exercises, made up of 10,000 troops from seven NATO member states to support actions in Ukraine.

“They must understand that there is no military solution," Moon said.

“They must understand that there is no military solution. A political dialogue towards a political resolution is the safest path,” he said, also warning on the “chaotic and dangerous situation” that continuing the military approach could create.

The rapid deployment force could be sent to Ukraine within the next couple of days, as Anders Fogh Rasmussen, NATO's Secretary General, announced. The military bloc is holding a summit in Wales throughout this week.

The head of the UN also underscored that the conflict could end up having “regional and global” consequences if the confrontation levels continued escalating.

The declarations made by Moon coincide with the launch of peace negotiations on Monday, which are being held between the Ukrainian government and representatives of the eastern rebel forces in the city of Minsk, Belarus. 

So far, the rebels have agreed on abandoning their demand of independence made on Sunday and opting for their initial claim for greater autonomy.