A UN Security Council meeting requested by Moscow last night highlights rising international tensions. For UN Assistant Secretary-General for Political Affairs Oscar Fernandez Taranco, "The situation is [. . .] now more combustible than ever."

New York City (AsiaNews/Agencies) - As Western-backed Ukraine and Russia continue to trade accusations, Kyiv's deadline against pro-Russian militias passed.

In Donetsk, the regional governor, Sergei Taruta announced a 'special operations regime' in the area. Almost on cue, pro-Russian groups seized the town hall in Slovyansk.

Overnight, tensions rose also at a Security Council meeting after Moscow called for a meeting. Speaking first, Oscar Fernandez-Taranco, UN assistant secretary-general for political affairs, warned that "The situation is [. . .] now more combustible than ever" with Russia possibly facing a spill-over effect.

For their part, the Russians and Ukrainians continue to provide different accounts of the situation.

Ukraine's UN ambassador Yuriy Sergeyev said Moscow had artificially created the crisis in eastern Ukraine, vowing not "to let the Crimea scenario repeat in eastern Ukraine." He also stressed that his government is readying a counterinsurgency plan to strike the "armed terrorists."

Russia urged the authorities in Kyiv not to use force against pro-Russian protesters in eastern Ukraine.

At a special UN Security Council session, Russia's ambassador called on Kyiv to "start a genuine dialogue".

"Further escalation of this must be swiftly stopped," said Vitaly Churkin, the Russian ambassador to the United Nations.

"It is the West that will determine the opportunity to avoid civil war in Ukraine," he added.

However, "We know who is behind this," said Samantha Power, the United States' permanent representative to the UN. "This instability was written and choreographed in and by Russia".

"The human stakes of what is happening in Ukraine are extremely high," she explained.

"The lives of innocent civilians are at risk yet we are being bombarded by Russian disinformation and propaganda, while the Ukrainians are being confronted by incitement and violence," she added.

To this effect, Russia has to explain the build-up of 40,000 troops on Ukraine's eastern border.

• ukraine
• russia
• crisis
• united
• nations
• security
• council