UNITED NATIONS, August 21, /ITAR-TASS/. Russia is hoping that the U.N. Security Council will be able to adopt a statement within the next several hours on ceasefire in eastern Ukraine, Russian Permanent Representative to the United Nations Vitaly Churkin said on Thursday.

The Russian delegation is circulating a draft statement for the press calling for a ceasefire in war-torn eastern Ukraine to allow the delivery of humanitarian aid for its residents.

Churkin said the statement could be adopted at 16:00 EST (midnight Thursday in Moscow).

“We are circulating a draft statement and we will try to get it adopted,” the diplomat said, adding that the document would be under the so-called “silence procedure” until 16:00 EST. If by that time none of the delegations makes any objections, the statement will be adopted automatically.

Churkin expressed hope that the document would be supported by U.N. Security Council members.