UN Security Council meeting on Ukraine gets heated, Russia accuses US of ‘wanting’ war

In a meeting of the United Nations Security Council on Monday on the topic of the Russia-Ukraine tensions, Russian diplomats accused the United States of “whipping up hysteria” and said it seems as though the US “wants” a war.

Discussion about the threat of war is provocative in itself,” said Russian Ambassador Vasily Nebenzya in his opening remarks at the meeting. “[The United States] are almost calling for this, you want it to happen, you’re waiting for it to happen, as if you want to make your words become a reality.”

Russia also denied plans to invade Ukraine, saying the United States rhetoric and media regarding the buildup of Russian troops along the Ukrainian border has had the effect of “whipping up hysteria” and “provoking escalation.” Russia went so far as to accuse the United States of pushing for a war in its own “pernicious interests.”

The 100,000 Russian troops currently placed along most of the Ukrainian border represents what US ambassador to the UN Linda Thomas-Greenfield called “the largest mobilization of troops in Europe in decades” and warned during the meeting that “if Russia further invades Ukraine, none of us will be able to say we didn’t see it coming. And the consequences will be horrific.”