The UN Security Council is holding an emergency meeting in New York to discuss the Ukraine crisis

An urgent meeting of the United Nations Security Council has convened in New York after Russia recognised two breakaway regions in eastern Ukraine and hours later said it would deploy troops there to “maintain peace”.

The United States said the announcement by Russian President Vladimir Putin was an “unprovoked violation of Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity” and backed Ukraine’s call for an urgent meeting of the UN Security Council.

US ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield has condemned Russia’s decision to recognise the two rebel-held territories in eastern Ukraine, warning that the consequences will be dire across Ukraine, Europe and worldwide.

The West has repeatedly warned the Kremlin not to officially recognise the separatist regions in Donetsk and Luhansk, an area with some four million residents.

They say in doing so would undermine the fragile ‘Minsk’ peace agreement.

Leaders from around the world spoke at the meeting, condemning actions by Russia as an invasion of Ukraine becomes more and more likely by the day.

Russia has been massing its forces around Ukraine’s borders for weeks, raising concern among the US and other Western governments that the Kremlin is planning to invade its neighbour.

Moscow has insisted it has no plans to invade.

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