(VOVworld) – The UN Security Council met on Monday to discuss the violence in eastern Ukraine. The US Ambassador to the UN, Samantha Power, blamed Russia and separatist rebels in eastern Ukraine for the escalating tensions, saying that Russia's end goal was to seize more territory. Representatives from Ukraine, Britain, and France asked Russia not to assist separatist rebels.

Jeffrey Feltman, Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs, addresses the Security Council on the situation in Ukraine. (UN Photo: Eskinder Debebe)

Russia's Permanent Representative to the UN, Vitaly Churkin, said the escalating tensions resulted from Kiev’s dodging direct talks with Donetsk and Lugansk regarding the Minsk deal, while intensifying military operations. He blamed Kiev for disrupting the upcoming meeting of the contact group in Minsk, asking other countries to raise pressure on Kiev to resume talks with separatists.

The UN Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs, Jeffrey Feltman, said efforts to find a political solution to the Ukrainian crisis must be redoubled, despite difficulties associated with diplomatic discussions.