UN to discuss escalating crisis in Ukraine

The UN Security Council is holding private consultations to discuss the crisis in Ukraine.

The meeting comes hours after Ukraine said Russian troops have taken up positions around a coast guard base and two airports in its Crimean peninsula, and sought help from the council to help protect it from its powerful neighbour.

Russia, which has a major naval base in Crimea, has confirmed only that armoured vehicles from its Black Sea Fleet were moving around Crimea for security reasons.

However, any action by the Security Council is highly unlikely because Russia is a veto-wielding permanent member and can block any enforceable measures.

On his way into the meeting, Russian Ambassador Vitaly Churkin said “I have no idea” what could come out of the session.

British Ambassador Mark Lyall Grant said the private meeting would be about de-escalating tensions between Ukraine and Russia, and guaranteeing Ukraine’s territorial integrity.