UN Security Council to convene about Ukraine crisis following Russian troops invasion

The UN Security Council is to hold an urgent meeting today at 19.00 GMT at the request of Britain, after the Russian president Vladimir Putin released a statement confirming Russian intervention in the Crimea region.

The statement came following a warning from the Ukraine’s interim government after armed men had seized the parliament building in the Crimea region, hoisting a Russian flag on the roof, and the unrecognised new prime minister of the region reportedly requested for Putin’s assistance to maintain peace.

All this comes as pro-Russian supporters continue to expand their protests, with clashes occurring in central Kharkiv and Russian flags recently being planted at administration offices in Donetsk. Activists still are yet to leave Kiev’s Independence Square, with funerals being held for victims of clashes.

William Hague the UK foreign secretary has tweeted saying “Russian Ambassador has been summoned to the Foreign Office over #Ukraine”, while US senator John McCain posted on the website with “Russian Senate backs Putin request to send troops to #Ukraine – straight out of Soviet playbook”.

The clashes here have quickly turned into the possibility of a full blown military intervention from Russia, with speculation that if pushed the government at Kiev will ask for emergency NATO intervention.

Daisy Field