UN Security Council to Meet Monday on Humanitarian Crisis in Ukraine

The United Nations Security Council meeting in New York City on February 28, 2022. ANGELA WEISS AFP
The United Nations Security Council meeting in New York City on February 28, 2022. ANGELA WEISS AFP
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UN Security Council to Meet Monday on Humanitarian Crisis in Ukraine

The United Nations Security Council meeting in New York City on February 28, 2022. ANGELA WEISS AFP
The United Nations Security Council meeting in New York City on February 28, 2022. ANGELA WEISS AFP

The UN Security Council will hold an emergency meeting Monday on the humanitarian crisis triggered in Ukraine by the Russian invasion, diplomats said Friday.

After this public session, the 15 members of the council will confer behind closed doors to discuss a possible draft resolution, a diplomat speaking on condition of anonymity told AFP.

This latter meeting has been proposed by Mexico and France, who are pushing a draft that calls for an end to hostilities in Ukraine, unhindered flow of humanitarian aid and protection of civilians.

But it has run into obstacles, namely a warning from the United States that it will not support such a draft unless it states explicitly that Russia has caused the humanitarian crisis, another diplomat told AFP.

France originally wanted a vote last Tuesday but it did not happen.

Now, diplomats say France has shifted and in light of US criticism is no longer pushing for a vote as quickly as before.

Any draft resolution that criticizes Russia by name is doomed because Russia has veto power on the Security Council.



Russia Says it Will Counter Any UK-Ukraine Cooperation in Sea of Azov

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskiy shake hands after a signing ceremony, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Kyiv, Ukraine January 16, 2025.REUTERS/Gleb Garanich/File Photo
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskiy shake hands after a signing ceremony, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Kyiv, Ukraine January 16, 2025.REUTERS/Gleb Garanich/File Photo
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Russia Says it Will Counter Any UK-Ukraine Cooperation in Sea of Azov

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskiy shake hands after a signing ceremony, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Kyiv, Ukraine January 16, 2025.REUTERS/Gleb Garanich/File Photo
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskiy shake hands after a signing ceremony, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Kyiv, Ukraine January 16, 2025.REUTERS/Gleb Garanich/File Photo

The Russian Foreign Ministry said on Saturday Ukraine and Britain "had no room" for cooperation in the Sea of Azov, commenting on a new 100-year partnership agreement between Kyiv and London the two countries' leaders announced on Thursday.

The Kremlin said on Friday that any placement of British military assets in Ukraine under the new agreement would be of concern to Moscow, in particular in the Sea of Azov, which Russia considers its own, and the ministry echoed those remarks.

"Any claims to this water area are a gross interference in the internal affairs of our country and will be firmly resisted," Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said in a comment posted on the ministry's website, Reuters reported.

The Azov Sea is bordered by southwest Russia, parts of southern Ukraine that Russia has seized in the war, and the Crimean peninsula that Moscow annexed from Ukraine in 2014.

Zakharova said the agreement itself was "worthless" for Russia, calling it "just another PR campaign" of Ukraine. Zakharova described the Sea of Azov as Russia's "internal sea".

British Prime Minister, Keir Starmer pledged on Thursday to work with Ukraine and allies on robust security guarantees if a ceasefire is negotiated with Russia, offering more support to President Volodymyr Zelenskiy with a 100-year partnership deal.

The agreement, announced in Kyiv during Starmer's first visit as prime minister, covered several areas, including boosting military cooperation to strengthen security in the Baltic Sea, Black Sea and Sea of Azov.