Photo Courtesy: Associated Press
Russian Federation Ambassador Vitaly Churkin (L), listens as US Ambassador Samantha Power (R), addresses the United Nations Security Council, at UN headwquarters on May 2, 2014
But Western powers on the council accused Russia of equipping and funding the pro-Russia forces that have seized government buildings in 10 eastern cities. Ukraine on Friday launched its first major offensive against the insurgency.
"Russia has released bands of thugs on Ukraine and is suddenly discovering this mixture might escape its control," French ambassador Gerard Araud said.
Russia called this latest council meeting, the second in a week. Churkin called on Kiev and its Western "enablers to not commit a fatal error" and stop the offensive, which he described as "criminal misadventures."
But British Ambassador Mark Lyall Grant retorted that "Russia's synthetic indignation convinces no one," and U.S. Ambassador Samantha Power said Russia was "trying to insult the intelligence of the world community" by calling another urgent council meeting.
The prospect for any council action on the crisis in Ukraine is highly unlikely. Russia holds veto power as a permanent council member.
Frustration soared, and Araud despaired at the council's "impotence."
"Peaceful protesters do not use grenade launchers," Lithuania's ambassador, Raimonda Murmokaite, said tartly. "They do not kidnap and shamelessly parade international observers."
Earlier Friday, pro-Russia forces shot down two Ukrainian helicopters. And seven European observers from the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe remain held by pro-Russia gunmen.
Ukraine has reported "many" rebels dead and wounded in its first major offensive against the insurgency. The Kremlin said Kiev's military move has "destroyed" the two-week-old Geneva agreement on calming the crisis.
In Washington, President Barack Obama and German Chancellor Angela Merkel threatened tougher new sanctions against Russia if Moscow doesn't quickly change its disruptive behavior.
U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon issued a statement through his spokesman expressing "grave concern" and urging both a diplomatic solution and a release of the OSCE monitors.
U.N. political chief Jeffrey Feltman will visit Kiev and Moscow next week to urge "restraint and an immediate return to dialogue."
RESULT
The U.N. Security Council is holding its 13th emergency meeting on the growing crisis in Ukraine at the request of Russia, whose ambassador Vitaly Churkin is
UNITED NATIONS: Security Council holds emergency Ukraine ...
UNITED NATIONS The U.N. Security Council is holding its 13th emergency meeting on the growing crisis in Ukraine at the request of Russia, whose
U.N. Security Council holds emergency meeting on Ukraine ...
KIEV/UNITED NATIONS - The United Nations Security Council held an emergency session on Sunday night to discuss the escalating crisis in Ukraine, just hours
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Yuriy Sergeyev, Ukraines ambassador to the United Nations, speaks during an U.N. Security Council emergency meeting called at Russia's request to
UN Security Council holds emergency meeting over Ukraine ...
UN Security Council holds emergency meeting over Ukraine By Alex Lantier 14 April 2014 The UN Security Council held an emergency meeting Sunday night in New
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UN Security Council holds emergency meeting on violence in Ukraine. to the United Nations, N. Security Council emergency meeting called at
UN Security Council holds 3rd emergency meeting on Ukraine ...
UNITED NATIONSAn emergency UN Security Council meeting on Ukraine, called by Russia to set out in greater detail its policy after being threatened by US and EU
UN Security Council holds emergency meeting on Ukraine crisis
Vitaly Churkin, the Russian Federations ambassador to the United Nations, speaks during an UN Security Council emergency meeting called at Russia's
PressTV - UN Security Council holds meeting on Ukraine
The United Nations Security Council has held an emergency meeting on the rising tensions in Ukraines eastern cities.
UN Security Council Holds Emergency Meeting on Ukraine
UN Security Council Holds Emergency Meeting on Ukraine emergency meeting of the U.N. Security Council United States, Ukraine and the
