Yelchenko: Kiev may convene UN Security Council because of the situation in Crimea
Permanent Representative of Ukraine to the United Nations Volodymyr Yelchenko held an urgent briefing on the situation in Crimea after the actions of Russian security forces and Russian President Vladimir Putin’s statements.
This was reported by Hromadske radio.
“The question of convening the UN Security Council is being considered ... As soon as it is necessary, we will do it immediately,” Yelchenko said.
“We are ready to convene the Security Council even at night, if necessary,” he stressed.
The Ukrainian ambassador to the United Nations also drew parallels between the situation now and in August of 2008, when Russia invaded Georgia.
According to him, the Russian leader’s statements about additional meetings in the Normandy format not being meaningful sound dangerous.
“The proposal for a September meeting in the Normandy format was a very useful idea,” he added.
On Wednesday, Russia’s Federal Security Service (FFS) released a statement about two alleged attempts by the Ukrainian military to attack Crimea and organize terrorist attacks there; during those attacks a Russian solider and an FSS fighter were killed.
Russian President Vladimir Putin accused the Ukrainian authorities of “proceeding to terror.”
Ukrainian general staff called the statements a provocation, and the secretary of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine, Oleksandr Turchynov, said they were hysterical lies.
President Petro Poroshenko said that Russia’s accusation that the Ukrainian military is preparing terrorist attacks in Crimea was a fantasy.