***BIRTH PANG WATCH**** Russia blocks UN statement on Ukraine as fighting escalates Russia prevented the UN Security Council on Saturday from criticizing statements by pro-Russian Ukrainian rebels and condemning an upsurge in violence that has claimed dozens of lives in Ukraine, council diplomats said. Pro-Russian rebels have launched an offensive against the strategic port of Mariupol in eastern Ukraine, prompting warnings from the European Union and UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon. Fighting has escalated in eastern Ukraine in recent days, and Russian President Vladimir Putin has blamed Kiev. The rebels have ruled out more peace talks. Western powers and Kiev blame Russia and the rebels for the fresh fighting. Bans press office issued a statement saying he strongly condemns todays rocket attack on the city of Mariupol, which reportedly killed dozens of civilians and left over one hundred injured. It also said Ban condemned the rebel rejection of a ceasefire and their provocative statements about claiming further territory. Britain proposed a Security Council statement that would have echoed Bans rebuke and called for an investigation into the attacks on Mariupol, but Russia rejected it, diplomats said. Council statements need unanimous approval. Russia have just blocked a (Security Council) statement by refusing to include condemnation of recent provocative public statements by the separatists, a council diplomat told Reuters on condition of anonymity. jpost/Breaking-News/Russia-blocks-UN-statement-on-Ukraine-as-fighting-escalates-388821
Posted on: Sun, 25 Jan 2015 07:41:20 +0000
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