Kiev, March 2 (IANS): Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko on Monday approved a decision of the National Security and Defence Council (NSDC) to call for international peacekeepers to monitor the ceasefire in eastern Ukraine, the presidential press service said.

Kiev will appeal to the UN and the European Union (EU) to set up a peacekeeping and security operation in Lugansk and Donetsk regions to ensure effective implementation of the Minsk peace agreement, Xinhua news agency reported citing the press service statement posted on the presidential website.

To come into force, the NSDC decision should be also approved by the Ukrainian parliament, which is scheduled to vote on the issue on Tuesday.

Ukraine's intention to call for the deployment of an international peacekeeping mission has triggered scepticism from the pro-independence insurgents, who said that the presence of any peacekeeper would violate the Minsk agreement reached on February 12.

Since the peace deal came into force on February 15, the ceasefire has been generally observed in the eastern regions despite sporadic violations and the warring sides have started the withdrawal of their heavy weapons from the frontlines.