UNITED NATIONS
Russia has renewed efforts to secure Security Council support for humanitarian aid to be sent to eastern Ukraine, from where Russia says 60,000 refugees have crossed its border.
An updated Russian proposal was distributed to council members on Monday, following one submitted earlier this month calling for aid and an end to clashes in the region.
While the new draft calls for a ceasefire between the Ukrainian army and pro-Russian separatists, humanitarian aid and dialogue, Russian ambassador Vitaly Churkin said a clause supporting Ukrainian integrity and sovereignty had also been added.
Western countries did not comment on the new proposal.
A Russian proposal to condemn violence that broke out during protests outside the Russian embassy in the Ukrainian capital Kiev was rejected following opposition from non-permanent member Lithuania.
Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko convened a meeting of the National Security and Defense Council in Kiev late on Monday to discuss putting a peace plan in place once the border with Russia has been secured.
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