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Ukraine Crisis Continues; Russian Troops in Crimea; UN Security Council Emergency Session

Aired March 01, 2014 - 16:00   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

JIM SCIUTTO, CNN ANCHOR: You are in the NEWSROOM. I'm Jim Sciutto, in today for Don Lemon. And just one message coming out of the United Nations, NATO and the White House today. It is for Russia. And that message is slow down and back off.

I'm talking about things that are moving very fast in Ukraine this weekend. It appears that Russia is eager to get a toe hold in part of Ukraine where the people are mostly of Russian descent. That's while the rest of the country is off balance from protests that already cost the Ukraine a new president, a Russian ally his job.

Crimea is that mostly Russian part of the Ukraine, a peninsula that bridges that two countries across the Black Sea. It is autonomous, still official belonged to Ukraine but it is also the site of a very important Russian naval base.

And today the Russian parliament voted to send troops inside Ukraine saying Russian people and military interests there need to be protected.

The head of the U.N. calling for calm and dialogue. NATO leaders warning Russia to respect Ukraine's borders. And while all this is happening, people who support Russia are fighting with people who do not on the streets of Crimea and in the capital of Ukraine, Kiev.

We're live right now in Ukraine's Crimea region in the main city there of Simfarapol. CNN's Diana Magnay has been there for some time and also in Washington, our senior White House correspondent Jim Acosta. We're going to go him shortly.

But Diana, first to you, you're on the ground there right in the middle of it. We're hearing reports that Russian troops are already there. We've been hearing that from U.S. officials yesterday, even reports from a Ukraine official at the U.N. that those numbers of Russian troops might have risen as high as 15,000. Do you see any evidence, one, of Russian forces and of Russian forces in numbers like that?

DIANA MAGNAY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, there certainly seems to be a very heavy military presence on the streets of this capital city of Crimea where I am at the moment. Gunmen in military fatigue, they are highly organized. They are highly armed. They are very efficient and they are in control of the government facilities, they are patrolling the streets. They are all over the place. It is difficult to believe that they are anything other than Russian, but they do not wear any kind of military insignia. They are trying their best to hide their identities. That said, Jim, I did manage to get an answer from one of them, a young guy who I spoke to today. And I said, where are you from? He said, I'm from Russia.

So take that for what you will. The Russian president says that there are no Russian boots on the ground outside of Russia's military bases in Sebastapol. From what I've seen on the streets, it's difficult to assess who these people might be if they're not taking their orders from Russia.

SCIUTTO: As U.S. officials have been telling us since yesterday that they're confident that those forces on the ground there are Russian, under Russian direction. I have to ask you as we see those pictures, these are armed soldiers, they have magazines in their automatic weapons. They're wearing masks. What is the reaction of people on the ground? This has to be a destabilizing, a scary presence if you are a resident of that area. What's been the reaction to this show of force by Russia?

MAGNAY: Well, actually that's what's surprising. We know that this region has a majority of ethnic Russians. But really today there was a sense of jubilation on the streets. There was a whole series of pro-Russian demonstrations going on around this city. People chanting "Russia, Russia" (INAUDIBLE) the name of the hated riot police that was disbanded last Wednesday. They were chanted as heroes on the streets of the Simfarapol today.

And it does give you the sort of feeling that what is going on here is that these military forces, alongside pro-Russian self-organized units, are massaging this sort of political process and the situation in Crimea so that the pro-Russian agenda is consolidated ahead of a referendum at the end of this month which the new premiere has just announced when Crimea will decide whether or not to become a separatist state. So to follow the logical conclusion from all of that, it would appear as though that is something that Russia is behind, Jim.

SCIUTTO: Well, that's exactly something we've been worried about is that clash of those very divided cultures and ethnicities there in Ukraine. The pro-Russian, the pro-Ukrainian and it's alarming to see that taking place right now. Thanks very much to our Diana Magnay. We're going to come back to you shortly.

Right now we are waiting for President Obama's response to all this in Ukraine, including the Russian parliament voting to allow Russian President Vladimir Putin to send troops, boots on the ground inside Ukraine. We're going to go now to our senior White House correspondent Jim Acosta. Jim, is there any sign, signal that the president is going to make a statement today in response to that vote in the Russian parliament?

JIM ACOSTA, CNN CHIEF WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Jim, we're waiting just as you're waiting to see if the president will respond to today's developments. We can tell you that a national security meeting was held here at the White House earlier today as you know, Jim, and as we've been showing our viewers all day long. We do have video of some of those top national security officials leaving the White House, defense secretary Chuck Hagel, the director of National Intelligence James Clapper, Martin Dempsey, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs and John Brennan, director of the CIA.

We can also tell you, Jim, that according to a senior administration official the president was not involved in that meeting. He did not attend that meeting. He was briefed on the situation in the Ukraine by his national security adviser Susan Rice and other top national security officials. But that national security meeting that occurred here at the White House was on Ukraine, was on policy options according to the senior administration official.

We can also report that we've just learned in the last couple of minutes that Vice President Biden joined that national security meeting via video conference. So the vice president is also involved in this. As you know, Jim, he is a very top close official to the president when it comes to national security questions, big foreign policy questions such as what is unfolding in Ukraine.

I did go back to a national or senior administration official to ask why the president was not involved in today's meeting. And this official would only say it's just not unusual for the president not to be there. He was as this official said briefed by his national security adviser.

So they're watching, Jim. They're watching these developments. No official response from the president yet as to what's occurred today, Jim.

SCIUTTO: Well Jim, you've been at the White House a long time. Is it indeed unusual for the president not to take part in a meeting in the situation room, I imagine, when you have such a tense situation overseas and with such remarkable developments today?

ACOSTA: Well, they have meetings as you know, Jim, like this quite often. The president has had a lot of foreign policy crises on his plate. I remember being here on a weekend when the principals as they call it did meet on the situation in Syria. And you saw the president. You saw the rest of his top national security team in the situation room.

The White House would release a photo later in the day confirming all of this. We don't anticipate that at this point because the president was in fact not involved in this meeting. And it's interesting. I did run into senior counselor to the president John Podesta who was here at the White House giving his family a tour of the west wing. He's obviously here very busy Monday through Friday but was here on a Saturday. And just caught up to him very briefly. Asked him whether or not what is happening right now in Ukraine is a test for this relationship between President Obama and President Putin, the U.S. and Russia.

It seems like an obvious question. He responded by saying well that goes without saying. And so they're well aware, they know that maybe President Putin is playing this a little bit differently than the president of the United States. That perhaps Putin does see this as an international chess game as the president of the United States has said he does not want this to be seen as. Secretary of state John Kerry as you know said he doesn't want this to be "Rocky IV."

Speculating here, Jim, and can't say that officials are telling me this. But perhaps the president is not getting as engaged, was not as involved in that meeting today perhaps as much as people might expect because they don't want to give that image. They don't want to give that across as if the president is somehow being held hostage by what Vladimir Putin is doing every move that he's making out there on the world stage.

But the president they say here at the White House is keeping up to speed on the situation in Ukraine through his national security team, Jim.

SCIUTTO: Well, thanks, Jim. Another update we'll be looking for shortly, I imagine, is when the president if the president speaks again with Vladimir Putin as he did on Friday. We do know that secretary of state John Kerry spoke a short time ago today with the Ukrainian president, keeping those lines of communication open. Certainly.

We have an update just in right now. And that's the U.N. security council is going to an open televised session on this subject of the Ukraine. We're going to take you there when that starts.

In the meantime, Russia's decision not only adds more strain to an already tense relationship with the U.S., but it could also impact the situation in Syria. We explain how right after this.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

SCIUTTO: Welcome back. You're looking now at a live picture inside the U.N. security council, a session to discuss the crisis in Ukraine.

We heard of some stumbles earlier in the afternoon when they were struggling even just to agree on the format for these talks. But we will be taking you there later in this hour to see how that discussion goes forward. Russia, remember, a seat at the table in the U.N. security council along with the United States.

Now all week Russian President Vladimir Putin has said Russia was not planning to violate Ukraine's sovereignty. Yet today he asked his lawmakers to sign off on sending troops into the Ukraine. And they voted unanimously to give him that right.

Plus there have been images like this. Surveillance video shows armed men storming a government building in Crimea. It's still not clear who they're working for, but if they are linked to Russia as Ukrainian officials say, it's another example of how Russia's official communication with the United States is not matching what's happening on the ground. And that growing disconnect between Russia and the U.S. may go beyond just Eastern Europe. Joining me now is CNN's Elise Labbott, our foreign affairs reporter at the State Department. Elise, we've got so much on the table that involves Russia right now. It's the nuclear agreement with Iran, it is peace efforts, stumbling peace efforts with Syria, it's that chemical weapons deal that you and I both covered in Syria. How does Russia defying the U.S. on Ukraine so publicly, how does it affect those other very key issues that we need Russia's help on? Syria first then Iran?

ELISE LABOTT, CNN FOREIGN AFFAIRS REPORTER: Well, Jim, I think that the U.S. and Russia have kind of demonstrated over the years that even in their areas of tension they're able to kind of compartmentalize and work together when it's really needed. I think you have to see what's going to happen over the next couple of days. Clearly the Syria issue I think is going to suffer for the mere fact that this Ukraine issue is an existential issue for Russia.

And that's really going to be all consuming right now. You have to see how that plays out. If the escalations are able to calm down, if the tensions are able to be smoothed out a little bit, and Russia is able to make some kind of accommodation and see some kind of national unity government in Ukraine where there are Russian influences protected and interests protected, I think maybe you might see Russia calm down a little bit, be able to focus on Syria. You have a little breathing room right now with the U.N. security council resolution on Syria and those peace talks stumbling.

So there's a little bit of time right now to focus just on Ukraine. But if this were to drag out, I could see a situation where Russia would say listen, I'm not really willing to push Syria, Bashar Al Assad, I'm really not willing to make it a priority to get that humanitarian access in. So I think Syria could suffer in the next couple of months.

But on Iran I don't really see any lack of cooperation. It's really in Russia's interests to make sure that their commercial interests are protected in Iran. It's in their interests to have a nuclear deal. And even in the height of tensions between the U.S. and Russia on Syria, they've been able to work on Iran. So I see Syria suffering a little bit more than Iran at this point.

SCIUTTO: Well it shows the intense importance of keeping those lines of communication open certainly on the crisis in Syria, in Ukraine rather exchanging so quickly. But on these other issues that are continuing issues, Syria and Iran. Just briefly now I want to bring in our own Richard Roth who is at the U.N. as this U.N. security council meeting gets set to start, discussing Ukraine.

Richard, what are you hearing now? Are they under way? Is there any substantive discussion going on now?

RICHARD ROTH, CNN U.N. CORRESPONDENT: Jim, we're going to see probably some fiery remarks on this unfolding crisis in Crimea. Yes, the U.N. is known critically as a talk shop. This time occasionally people appreciate the chance to at least vent, get some thoughts on the table. They're taking it from the closed door meeting, the second in two days, to now this open historic security council chamber.

We are very likely to hear Ukraine and Russia be the main sparring partners in this diplomatic duel at the security council. There will be no resolution legally with Russia having veto power but you'll probably going to hear several speeches including condemnation of what's happening. Trying to send warnings to Mr. Putin who the secretary general is supposed to have talked to sometime today still hasn't happened the last time we checked.

There'll be some preliminary announcements at the beginning of the session. Yesterday U.S. ambassador Samantha Powers said there should be an international mediation mission that should go to the region. Russia said it didn't mind as long as the proper preparations are there. But there's been no talk of that here. One representative of the Ukraine mission without any corroboration said there are now 15,000 Russian troops in Crimea.

But we've always in the past been leery of statistics made by diplomats here far away from any battlefield. We will likely hear the ambassador possibly say that in his remarks. You have the current president of the security council for this month, first day on the job, the ambassador from Luxembourg who will bring the meeting to order with some preliminary remarks, Jim.

SCIUTTO: Richard, a lot of our focus now is focusing on consequences. President Obama said yesterday there will be costs for Russia's actions in the Ukraine. That's even before today's events where the Russian parliament gave President Putin the right to send troops into all of Ukraine. In the U.N. in light of that Russian veto, what can the U.N., the U.N. security council do in terms of raising costs for Russia? Is there anything they can do? You mentioned they have the veto or is it really as you say just a place to vent?

ROTH: I think remarks will be made. But I think as you have hinted and said in other reports, the diplomat action will take place elsewhere with strong groups, whether it's lack of attendance at a G8 meeting, whether it's going to be sanctions, whether it's going to be condemnation. They're going to get it on the table here. But while Russia signed on to some statement calling for calm and stability, it is rather meaningless. They would block any substantive action.

But we've seen it with Kosovo and other crises around the world, countries act so-called coalition of the willing whether diplomatically or militarily and they bypass the U.N. itself. But it does make the Ukraine feel good. Many countries believe it or not still relay on the U.N. if for anything just to be heard. Ukraine will get its chance on the international stage right now.

SCIUTTO: We're going to go now to that. The session is under way. Let's have a listen inside the U.N. security council.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: (through translator): ... addressed to the president of the security council as (INAUDIBLE) 2014, (INAUDIBLE) 136. The agenda is adopted.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: In accordance with rule 37 of the council's provisional rules of procedure, I invite the representative of Ukraine to participate in this meeting. It is so decided.

The security council will now begin its consideration of item 2 of the agenda. I welcome the deputy secretary general, his excellency Mr. Jan Eliasson and I give him the floor.

JAN ELIASSON, U.N. DEPUTY SECRETARY GENERAL: Madam president, members of the security council, since the briefing yesterday by assistant secretary Fernandez Toronko (ph) to this council, there have been reports of continued serious developments in Ukraine. In Crimea, key sites such as airports, communications and public buildings, including the regional parliament, reportedly continued to be blocked by unidentified armed men.

There are further reports of armed personnel taking control of regional administration buildings in several cities in the east and south of Ukraine. The new Crimean prime minister Sergei Aksenov today released a statement appealing to President Vladimir Putin to provide assistance and I quote "in ensuring peace and tranquility on the territory of the autonomous republic of Crimea."

In the same statement he announced that he was taking control of security in Crimea. And I quote "on a temporary basis." He told all security personnel to declare allegiance to him rather than to the authorities of Kiev. Following the reported deployment of additional Russian troops and armored vehicles to Crimea, the Russian's federation upper house of parliament today approved a request of President Putin for Russian forces to be used in Ukraine and I quote "pending the normalization of the public and political situation in that country."

At the same time, in this fluid situation, however, there are some encouraging signs. One of them is the reported announcement from Kiev just now about the intention to broaden the government to include representatives from eastern Ukraine. We also are noting that calls for dialogue among all other interested parties inside and outside of Ukraine appear to be resonating.

Referring to the security council discussions yesterday about Robert Saris (ph) fact finding mission and his possible visit to Crimea, Mr. Saris (ph) was in touch with the authorities of the autonomous republic of Crimea. He came to the conclusion that the visit to Crimea today was not possibly for logistical reasons. In a statement today, Saris (ph) noted that if he had traveled to Crimea he would have conveyed on behalf of the secretary general a message for all to calm down the situation and to refrain from any actions that could further escalate an already tense environment.

Robert Saris (ph) will travel to Geneva today where he will brief the secretary general on his mission to Ukraine and discuss further possible steps. The secretary general is gravely concerned that the situation has further deteriorated since yesterday's meeting of the council. In this regard, let me reiterate the secretary general's important messages conveyed in his statement of today. And I quote, "the secretary general continues to closely follow the seriously and rapidly unfolding events in Ukraine, including developments in Crimea, and is gravely concerned about the deterioration of the situation. The secretary general reiterates his call for the full respect for and preservation of the independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine. He calls for an immediate restoration of calm and direct dialogue between all concerned to solve the current crisis. The secretary general will be speaking with President Vladimir Putin of Russia shortly about the situation in Ukraine" unquote.

Let me say in closing, at this crucial moment it is important to recall the mission of this organization, to always search for peaceful settlements of dispute. This is the essence of the U.N. charter and should serve as our primary guide in this situation. Now is the time for cool heads to prevail. Thank you.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: (through translator): I thank the deputy secretary general for his briefing, and I now give the floor to the representative of Ukraine.

YURIV SERGEYEV, UKRAINIAN AMBASSADOR TO UN: Madam President, distinguished members of the security council, deputy secretary general, Mr. Eliason, excellencies, colleagues, the media, thank you very much for agreeing to have this meeting on such a short notice. Mr. Eliason, thank you for your comments, and thank you for presenting us the statement of the secretary general which is very promising. What I am going to state now was sent to all the nations this afternoon including the recent information involving developments in Ukraine and mostly in Crimea.

The situation continues to deteriorate. As I told you yesterday, the Russian troops had illegally entered the territory of Ukraine in the Crimean peninsula on the reason to protect their Russian-speaking population of Ukraine. A few hours ago, the upper house of Russian parliament, council federation, has unanimously authorized the use of military force against Ukraine upon request of the president of Russian Federation Vladimir Putin.

But the troops are already there. And their number is increasing every coming hour. This action by the Russian Federation constitutes an act of aggression against the state of Ukraine. A severe violation of international law posing a serious threat to sovereignty and territorial integrity of our country as well as peace and stability in the whole region.

The Russian Federation doesn't comply with its obligations as state guarantor of Ukraine in the Budapest Memorandum (INAUDIBLE) as well as other prominent members of the security council to refrain from the threat or use of force against the territorial integrity of Ukraine. It is a dangerous challenge to the very principle of the entity. Russia officially rejected Ukraine's proposal to hold immediate bilateral consultations under article 7 of the Treaty of Friendship, Cooperation and Partnership between Ukraine and the Russian Federation of 1997.

Russian Federation brutally violated the basic principles of charter of the United Nations, of (INAUDIBLE) member states to refrain from threat or use of force against the territorial integrity or political independence of any state. The announced military intervention of the Ukraine, the government of Ukraine has requested to hold this meeting of the security council. They call upon the security council to do everything possible now to stop aggression by the Russian Federation of Ukraine. There is still a chance.

Ukraine addresses the guarantor states to react immediately to prevent intervention. We are calling for the international monitors (INAUDIBLE) with regard to aggression of the Russian Federation. We urge all member states of the United Nations to demonstrate solidarity with Ukrainian nation to protect sovereignty and territorial integrity of the country, to protect the very basic principles of the United Nations. Currently brutally violated by a permanent state - permanent member of the security council. Thank you, madam president. Thank you for your attention.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE (through translator): I thank the representative of the Ukraine for his statement, and I now give the floor to members of the security council. I give the floor to the representative of Russian Federation.

VITALLY CHURCKIN, RUSSIAN FEDERATION AMBASSADOR TO U.N. (through translator): Thank you, madam president. First of all, I would like to thank my - express my sympathy to you because under your presidency in just the two hours we wasted on discussing the format for this meeting, and we agreed that in an open format only three people would speak. Mr. Eliason, my Ukrainian colleague, and the (INAUDIBLE) of the Russian federation. As I understand, some of the colleagues of the security council already intend to break with this.

But what can you do? Went there's a game without rules? I would like to thank Mr. Eliason for his briefing and support the idea that he ended on, the idea that in this situation cooler heads must prevail. Unfortunately, I must note that my Ukrainian colleague did not go for that, and in his speech what I heard was a number of terms. We can't agree with them. That's all.

Characterizing the situation in Ukraine and the actions of the Russian Federation. The colleagues we discussed the crisis. A crisis which should not have taken place. In order for it to occur, there was no objective reason for it to happen. There was and there still is our fraternal country of Ukraine, our neighbor. If you talk about this in terms of the last fall situation, the democratically legally elected president Mr. Yanukovych, he is relying on the parliamentary majority in a democratically elected parliament.

Truly, the country is dealing with serious economic challenges, and with the leadership of Ukraine they have serious decisions to make. In particular they need to make a decision whether they will join or will they sign an agreement of association with you. This is a complex decision. One of the mistakes of the Ukrainian leadership maybe was the fact that at the last minute they realized that that agreement on association that was being proposed by Brussels could have significant economic consequences for Ukraine.

In these conditions, the Ukrainian leadership, the president, took a decision which is fully constitutional, and it fully meets the prerogatives of the head of any state to refrain, pull back at the moment, from signing an agreement on association with the E.U. That didn't mean, as many have said that, there was a full repudiation of European orientation, just that he had to weigh the circumstances that had come together at that time.

So I repeat, that was a decision which was fully within the legitimate prerogatives of the leadership of Ukraine.

So I have the question, why did this problem need to be -- result in street manifestations? Why is it that these street demonstrations need to be encouraged from abroad, encouraged by people from the E.U.? Why did the speakers of several countries of the E.U., why did they need to appear at these meetings that were ignited by protests against this decision by the Ukrainian leadership? Why did officials need to talk about bringing -- whipping up the public and whipping up leaders of the opposition? Why is it that -- why did there have to be such crude interventions in the internal sovereignty of Ukraine?

And they are another question to be asked. During the crisis, reacting to these protests the president Yanukovych -- and I don't want to condone his actions. Many things could be said. I'll just repeat the facts. That the leader of the opposition, Mr. Yatsenyuk was offered the P.M. Why not accept that proposal? Why continue to ratchet up the situation?

He could have created a government, Mr. Yatsenyuk, if he wanted to sign an agreement on association with the E.U. He could have. And then he would have been responsible for the catastrophic consequences, economic consequences for the country if he signed that agreement. And then in 2015 there will be presidential elections in Ukraine.

And if the people don't like the opposition to Mr. Yanukovych, then let them elect another one. That happened in Ukraine before they did that. And Yanukovych lost elections. Other presidents came in in Ukraine.

So why continue to whip up the situation? And why some of our western colleagues, do they -- are they trying to spur on a continuation of this confrontation? Why bring the people into the streets, the armed militants into the street? Why these armed militants need to throw things at the police? Molotov cocktails? Why go after the police?

One of the scoldings or one of the terrorists -- one of the criticism have been made against people, why are there -- there's no criticisms of people fighting for democracy. The people fighting for democracy there have been no criticism. So, why do they exist if they're going to react to this type of manifestation? Why should they exist?

As a result of the development of the crisis in this way, an agreement was signed, 21st of fiction. And president Yanukovych and the opposition signed it. In it, there were the signatures of three foreign affairs ministers. Minister of foreign affairs of Germany, France and Poland. It was a very important agreement that was reached. And at a later stage of the crisis, it gave an opportunity to get out of the crisis situation.

Under this agreement, there should be a national unit government formed in 10 days, constitutional reforms undertaken and then the constitution being adopted. By December 2015, there would be presidential elections.

The opposition and the authorities of the opposition said that they would not use force. They were to give over their weapons to whoever was supposed to keep them. Why was this agreement not complied with? Why was it not implemented? Why did we hear threats against President Yanukovych as a result of which he had to leave Kiev?

Why is it that the parliament with its new membership, the Ukrainian parliament, with the traumatic changes, why did it first right off the top take a decision to take away -- make a decision to take away the language legislation which says that people have the right to use specific languages, minority languages, of not only Russian language but other minority languages have the right? Why the first day was that decision taken to take those away? Was it -- it was not a political coalition or process that they were talking about.

It's that one of the leaders of the opposition was called -- was trying to push his will, called himself a victor and trying to force his will on people. I'm not talk about whether there were a lot of them, but there were -- or not a lot of them, but there were a number of groups, and among these groups there are some radical extremists, activists who, in fact -- who work on Ukrainian security, that work in that area.

Now, what has taken place the last few days, which really is why we are meeting today? Well, it's a very difficult situation the last few hours has not happened in Crimea. But in the eastern part of Ukraine there's been a lot of concern and particularly in Crimea, and we've seen the emergence of people from Kiev with a clear intention of repeating what's in Kiev, what has been happening in the western part of Ukraine. They want to replace the regional government. So that has created great concern in the eastern part of the country, especially in the republic of Crimea.

So in these circumstances, the head of the ministers, Mr. Aksyonov (ph) in Crimea made a statement. And today, this was referenced by Mr. Eliasson (ph).

I will quote the statement: In spite of the agreement which was achieved by the central authorities, there cannot be a change of the security without the agreement of the council and the republic of Crimea the violation of the constitution and the violation of laws on the police yesterday, the 28th of February, and the beginning of the police action has meant that in these -- in this -- in Crimea with the people that are there that are trying to control the situation and the territory, because of the situation there has been disorder and with use of weapons.

So then the statement I'll quote now that was issued today by the minister of foreign affairs of Russia: The night of March 1st some unknown people sent from Kiev made attempts to take over the ministry of internal affairs building in Crimea. Because of these provocations, there were casualties. There was an attempt to take over other buildings. The attempt they tried to block it. There were some politicians in Kiev that are trying to stir up the situation on the peninsula upon orders of Kiev. It's very irresponsible to try to whip up the situation in a situation that is already very tense already in Crimea.

So in these conditions, what I mentioned by Mr. Aksyonov, the prime minister of Crimea, he went to the president of Russia and made a request to provide assistance to restore peace in Crimea. This information is an appeal about Mr. Yanukovych. His removal from office we thought was done by -- not done in a legal way.

As a result of this statement or appeal, the president of Russia under our constitutional procedures sent to the council of the federation the following request, "that due to the extraordinary situations taking place in Ukraine, threats to the lives of Russian citizens, our compatriots, the military people of the Russian federation that are there, that have been sent there under the agreement we have with Ukraine and to Crimea, under the relevant parts of the constitution, we have gone to the parliament and asked for the possibility of use of force by the Russian Federation on Ukraine until there is a normalization of the civic and political situation in Ukraine," end of quote.

So, I'd like to draw your attention to it says on the territory of Ukraine. Not against Ukraine as my Ukrainian colleague said but on the territory of Ukraine until the normalization of the civic and political situation in this country.

On the recent reports that I have, including on the statement by the representative of the president of the Russian federation for the press, a decision on use of armed forces, on the territory of Ukraine, the president of the Russian federation has not taken that decision.

Now, the -- how to get out of this situation. I repeat, as Mr. Eliasson (ph) said quite correctly, we need cooler heads to prevail and we have to get back to the political constitutional path. We need to go back to the agreement of the 25th of February and establish a national unity government.

And we need to put an end to attempts to converse with opponents, ethnic opponents, political or -- to do it with force, international events that have stirred up interest in Ukraine that we need to sideline the radicals, and we have to -- with those opponents in Kiev, they have to get away from the radicals. And they have to get back to the territory of Ukraine, because such actions that they're taking could lead to very difficult developments, which the Russian federation is trying to avoid.

Thank you very much, Madam President.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE (through translator): I thank the representative of the Russian federation.

And I now give the floor to the representative of the United States.

SAMANTHA POWER, U.S. AMBASSADOR TO U.N.: Thank you, Madam President. The United States renews our call for the international community to support the newly formed government of Ukraine and to prevent unnecessary violence.

I'd like to take a moment to respond to the comments made here by the representative of the Russian federation. Actions speak louder than words. Early this morning, the Russian Duma acted to authorize the use of military force in Ukraine. This is as dangerous as it is destabilizing.

We are deeply disturbed by reports this morning of Russian military intervention into Crimea. This intervention is without legal basis. Indeed, it violates Russia's commitment to protect the sovereignty territorial integrity and independence of Ukraine.

It is time for the Russian intervention in Ukraine to end. The Russian military must stand down, the aspirations of the Ukrainian people must be respected, and political dialogue must be allowed to continue.

We applaud the remarkable restraint to that dialogue that the new Ukrainian government in Kiev has demonstrated in the face of hostility. We have said from the outset that we recognize and respect Russia's historical ties to Ukraine. But instead of engaging the government of Ukraine and international institutions about its concerns for ethnic Russians, Russia ignored both and has instead acted unilaterally and military.

It is ironic that the Russian federation regularly goes out of its way in this chamber to emphasize the sanctity of national borders and of sovereignty. But Russian actions in Ukraine are violating the sovereignty of Ukraine and pose a threat to peace and security.

Russia alleges various actions against and threats to minority groups in Ukraine. We see no evidence of these actions yet, but Russia's provocative actions could easily push a tense situation beyond the breaking point. Russia's incitement of groups to come out to protest is not responsible behavior in the present situation.

There is a clear way forward that would preserve Ukraine's sovereignty, territorial integrity and address Russia's concerns. First, Russia should directly engage the government of Ukraine. Second, international monitors and observers, including from the U.N. and OSCE, should be sent to Ukraine. That's the best way to get the facts, monitor conduct, and to prevent any abuses.

Russia is a leading member of both institutions and can participate actively to ensure that its interests are upheld. The immediate deployment of international observers from either the OSCE or United Nations to Crimea would also provide transparency about the movement and activities of military and paramilitary forces in the region, and diffuse the tensions between different groups.

We are also working to stand up an international mediation mission to the Crimea to begin to deescalate the situation and facilitate productive and peaceful political dialogue among all Ukrainian parties. Our paramount concerns are to end the confrontation and to find a solution that allows the Ukrainian people to determine their own destiny, their own government, their own future. That must be the goal of this council and the international community.

The United Nations will work with Ukraine, our allies and partners in Europe and around the world, and here at the United Nations to uphold and protect the sovereignty, unity and democratic future of Ukraine. Thank you.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE (through translator): I thank the representative of the United States, and I give the floor to the representative of the United Kingdom.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: President, as the permanent representative of Russia has suggested that some E.U. member states were somehow involved in making the crisis in Ukraine worse, I should like to set out clearly my government's position.

The United Kingdom is deeply concerned by the escalation of tensions in the Crimea peninsula and by the fact that the Russian parliament has authorized Russian military action on Ukrainian soil against the wishes of the Ukrainian government. This action is a grave threat to the sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity of Ukraine. We condemn any act of aggression against Ukraine.

We have therefore sought an immediate and full explanation from the Russian federation for the decision to authorize --

JIM SCIUTTO, CNN ANCHOR: You've just been listening to an emergency session of the U.N. Security Council there discussing the situation in Ukraine, really a riveting back and forth between the Ukraine's representative, Russia's representative and U.S. representative, Ambassador Samantha Power.

Let me just briefly summarize. Samantha Power, the U.S. ambassador to the U.N. saying that it is time for Russian intervention in Ukraine to end, and she argues that it is as dangerous as it is destabilizing. And she also goes on to suggest some steps that the U.S. and its partners are working on, including bringing international monitors.

Before that we heard from the Russian ambassador to the U.N., Vitaly Churkin, in a very defiant argument starting by saying that really the Russians were asked to come in by Crimean representatives, pro-Russian in that part of the country. Said they received a request to provide assistance to restore peace in that country. He also went on to make the charge that it was the west, including the E.U.

And the U.S., who stirred up the disturbances in Kiev, saying that it was in his words a crude intervention into the internal sovereignty of the Ukraine. So, in effect, Russia there reversing the tables on the U.S. saying they are not violating Ukraine's sovereignty but that in fact, the west did that by getting involved in those demonstrations.

We are joined now by our team of correspondents. We have Elise Labott at the State Department, we have Richard Roth at the U.N., and we have Christiane Amanpour in London. Christiane, I'd like to start with you. Listening to that back and forth there really a dramatic exchange of arguments after we also heard from Ukraine's own tell me what you heard that was the most striking part of this.

CHRISTIANE AMANPOUR, CNN CHIEF INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, all sides staked out the positions that we've been hearing over the last 24 hours. There was nothing new in who they blamed and counter-blame. I found it striking that the Russians didn't go as heavily in a diatribe against the United States as the U.S. did against Russia.

The things that were slightly interesting were both the United States and Russia named a couple of avenues out of this. Russia suggested that there should be a government of national unity in the Ukraine, and also that the rights of the ethnic Russians should be respected. The Russians have been very angry that the interim Ukrainian government issued a law banning the Russian language and also that they disbanded the security service, the riot police.

From the U.S. point of view as you point out, there was a long list of suggestions, and apparently work under way according to the United States to involve many, many different international organizations in fact gatherings, in missions to Ukraine and to Crimea, and indeed as a way to observe and monitor and mediate the way forward -- insisting also, the U.S. ambassador, that Russia, which is part of these organizations that were named, would be able to have its own interests respected.

So, there did seem to be an attempt to step back from the brink, but it's still clearly a very, very difficult situation. The Russian ambassador again stating that the Russian government has not made a decision as to whether to have a full-scale military intervention. We'll see how this diplomacy works out.

SCIUTTO: It was interesting, I was watching my watch, it was at least 10 minutes before the Russian ambassador to the U.N., Vitaly Churkin, started talking about the issue on hand, troops on the ground. He was, in effect, relitigating the events to this stage, and leveling those old charges that the U.S. and West were behind the demonstrations in Kiev.

It did strike me that early on, the Deputy Secretary General Jan Eliasson mentioned a hopeful sign today, and that is the government in Kiev mentioned the idea of broadening the government to add more representatives from eastern Ukraine, which speaks to your point about creating a unity government.

Do you see that as a hopeful sign as well?

AMANPOUR: Well, it's an indispensable necessity at this point. In fact, we've been reporting on this from the beginning of this week. The foreign ministers who negotiated that deal that you heard Churkin talking about a week ago have said over and over again, particularly the Polish foreign minister, who was instrumental in conversations with Yanukovych towards the very end, that there had to be a clear demonstration that the new interim authorities in Ukraine were not just for their side of Ukraine but for all of Ukraine, including obviously the ethnic Russians and those who see their future aligned with Russia, particularly in the Crimea and that part of Ukraine.

So, this has been something that side of Ukraine but for all of Ukraine, including obviously the ethnic Russians and those who see their future aligned with Russia, particularly in the Crimea and that part of Ukraine. So this has been something that really they need to do. I mean, it's the sine qua non of any kind of revolution. You have to be of all the people not just for one side.

And I think that's going to be something that's going to be heavily urged on the new Ukrainian authorities and to see whether there can be some kind of mediation. Interestingly, the Polish foreign minister said, this was last week, that one of the reasons he believed Yanukovych had agreed to sort of step back and shorten his time in power -- now this is before Yanukovych fled, before the order was given to kill all those people -- was that President Putin himself had said to Yanukovych it's time to sort of shorten your time in office and have new elections.

So, as long as the Russians can be brought on board, then it looks like there might be some hope to some kind of mediation. But it's going to be some tough diplomacy ahead.

SCIUTTO: Christiane, as you've been speaking there we're seeing this meeting now breaking up at the U.N. Security Council, a little less than an hour as they held this emergency session to discuss the situation, the crisis on the ground in Ukraine.

I'm going to bring in our Richard Roth from the U.N. now.

Before the Russian and American ambassadors spoke we saw the Ukraine ambassador, Yuri Sergeyev speak as well. He talked about how they wanted peace and stability of the whole region restored, that that's threatened by Russia's intervention. He also mentioned his interest in having international monitors on the ground there, something that ambassador power mentioned.

Do you see, Richard, that those efforts that planning is under way already to bring as Ambassador Power said a mediation mission, the possibility of monitors? How far along is that option or is it still just in discussion?

RICHARD ROTH, CNN SR. UNITED NATIONS CORRESPONDENT: That could be in discussion. We now know that Secretary General Ban Ki-moon of the U.N. has spoken with Putin of Russia in the last hour or so. We're awaiting details on that conversation. I don't want to guess, but we could see some early feelers regarding the idea of monitors or any type of discussions.

This is where the U.N. comes into play. You've got two differing sides. The U.N. can be the honest broker to try to set up something. As you mentioned, U.S. Ambassador Power talking about monitors from either the U.N. or the European Security organizations. The Ukraine ambassador did not speak that long compared to the Russian ambassador. Usually, the country that's got the big complaint and brings the meeting before the cameras usually they go on for awhile. Perhaps Ukraine is regretting that. Ukraine said that Russian troops by the hour continue to pour in, though we didn't give the same number as one of his spokesmen of 15,000 Russian troops in Crimea which we do not have any confirmation on.

The Security Council will be watching the situation in the days ahead. They'll come right back for meetings. They may want to embarrass Russia if things heat up and force a Moscow veto. For now as you heard, even Vitali Churkin of Russia say cooler heads should prevail. But the actions speak louder than words, says his U.S. counterpart -- Jim.

SCIUTTO: Absolutely. And Vitaly Churkin said that cooler heads should prevail but then accused hit Ukrainian counterpart of not having a cooler head in effect, although Yuri Sergeyev's comments from what I hear were fairly measured and calm and much shorter than his Russian counterparts. I want to bring in Elise Labott, foreign affairs reporter, talking about U.S. involvement.

You've been doing reporting on the options on the table for Secretary Kerry and President Obama. You talked about how an essential focus here is getting Russian buy, in trying to convince the Russians that they can have a part, a relationship with a unified Ukraine with the government going forward. How much of a priority is that?

ELISE LABOTT, CNN FOREIGN AFFAIRS REPORTER: I think that's going to be the big priority, Jim. Nobody wants to see this escalate. And we've been talking throughout the day about how the U.S. and Russia have so many issues that they're working on together, on Syria, on Iran. Definitely don't want any of those to suffer and don't want to see any type of military intervention getting any larger in Ukraine.

So I think right now the discussions are centered around how can they send a message to President Putin not just that there will be costs, which is the stick but what's the carrot, that if you can be part of the solution, if you could help develop a strong independent democratic Ukraine you can have wide-ranging relationships on the diplomatic, political and economic front with Ukraine similar to a country like Finland which is a neighbor of Russia which has very close ties with the European Union but also has a very good, close economic and political relationship with Russia.

So, I think what you're hearing at the United Nations, even though there's a lot of tough rhetoric going on, you heard Ambassador Samantha Power calling it, quote, "ironic" that Russia's always talking about the sanctity and the sovereignty of other countries, a kind of dig at how the Russians have been dealing on Syria, but also talking about mediation and talking about how Russian interests can be protected.

So I think that's really what we're going to see in the next couple of days, maybe a mediator go there, maybe some discussion on how to make sure that Russia has a seat at the table here. SCIUTTO: I suppose the trouble is those carrots and sticks I'm sure have been a topic of conversation in all the back and forth we've seen over the last 48, 72 hours before those Russian force moved in and yet Russia went forward.

But what we have learned, the president's national security -- deputy national security adviser Ben Rhodes has tweeted just a short time ago that the president today was in touch with several world leaders involved in this crisis. So, clearly those conversations continuing.

We're going to take a short break now. You've just watched this emergency session in the U.N. Security Council. We're going have our reporters Elise Labott, Richard Roth at the U.N. and others, including on the ground in Crimea, right after this break.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

SCIUTTO: You are in the CNN NEWSROOM. I'm Jim Sciutto in today for Don Lemon.

And this just into CNN: Russian state media are reporting that President Obama spoke a short time ago by phone with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Mr. Obama reportedly raised concerns about Russia's plan for possible intervention in Ukraine. No word on President Putin's response to those confirmed.

We've got Fred Pleitgen on this story now from Moscow.