Ambassadors of the two powers exchanged mutual accusations during the first public debate on the crisis in Eastern Europe. Russia's ambassador accused the West of "fueling hysteria" by concentrating forces on the Ukrainian border, while the U.S. ambassador said Moscow was trying to "paint Kiev and Western countries as aggressive."

The UN's most powerful body is in fact paralyzed by the veto power of the powers, which fail to reach agreements on almost any issue. In the shadow of the aggressive rhetoric, US and Russian foreign ministers will meet again tomorrow.

Russia denies that it is preparing for an invasion of Ukraine, which according to the West may be set off at any moment. Russia demands that Ukraine will never join NATO, and that the military alliance withdraw its forces from Eastern European countries. NATO and the United States have outright rejected these demands, and the decision on the next step lies with Russian President Vladimir Putin.