ATHENS, March 4 -- The Greek EU Presidency urged on Tuesday all sides in the ongoing crisis in Ukraine to keep calm and carry on the dialogue for a peaceful solution to the benefit of the country and the wider region.

"The crisis in Crimea can be addressed, as said during yesterday's Council of EU Foreign Affairs Ministers, only through a policy of principles and respect to international law," Greek Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Evangelos Venizelos told a press briefing in Athens on Tuesday, commenting on the results of his visit to Kiev for talks with the interim government on Sunday and Monday's meeting in Brussels.

Kiev's interim government handed to the Greek official a letter formally requesting the resumption of the process of Ukraine's membership in the European Union by signing the EU's Association Agreement.

Ahead of the upcoming meeting of the EU Council on Thursday for which the new Ukranian Prime Minister Arseny Yatsenyuk has received an invitation to attend, Venizelos underlined that Greece and the Greek EU Presidency continue the dialogue with the Russian government as well, seeking a solution to the crisis.

"We believe that as dictated by the international law and common sense, retaining calm, dialogue and mediation is the only way to resolve crises and restore international legitimacy and security for all people and countries," he said.