Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko has called for UN peacekeepers to be deployed to eastern Ukraine to enforce a ceasefire, according to the BBC.
At an emergency security meeting, he said such a force would help guarantee security "in a situation where the promise of peace is not being kept".
His comments came after Ukrainian troops withdrew from the strategic city of Debaltseve after intense fighting.
Poroshenko's request was approved by Ukraine's national security and defence council at the emergency meeting on Wednesday night.
"The issue was discussed and a decision has been taken to appeal to the UN and the EU concerning the setting up in Ukraine of a peacekeeping and security operation," council secretary Olexander Turchynov told reporters.