UN chief heads to Moscow, kiev

United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon was preparing to set off for Russia and the Ukraine yesterday to encourage a peaceful settlement of the crisis threatening conflict between them.
Ban will meet with Russia's President Vladimir Putin in Moscow today and with Ukraine's interim leaders President Olexsandr Turchynov and Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk in Kiev tomorrow.
"The Secretary-General has consistently called for a solution that is guided by the principles of the United Nations Charter," Ban's office said, urging "all parties to resolve the current crisis peacefully."
Moscow and Kiev are on the brink of conflict following a breakdown in relations in the wake of last month's overthrow of Ukraine's former Kremlin-backed president Viktor Yanukovych.