ROUGH CUT (NO REPORTER NARRATION)

United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon is following the situation in Ukraine closely and with grave concern, his spokesman said Saturday (March 1).

"The Secretary-General reiterates his call for full respect for and preservation of the independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity of Ukraine. He calls for an immediate restoration of calm and direct dialogue between all concerned to solve the current crisis," spokesman Martin Nesirky said.

The statement comes after Russia's upper house of parliament approved a proposal by Russian President Vladimir Putin to take military action in Ukraine.

Nesirky said Ban would be calling Putin to express his concerns prior to the Secretary-General's trip to Geneva.