Ukraine's interim Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk told the United Nations Security Council in New York City Thursday that Ukraine is a victim of Russian "military aggression."
Yatsenyuk said the presence of Russian military forces in Crimea is "clearly identified," adding that it was "absolutely and entirely unacceptable in the 21st century to resolve any kind of conflict with tanks artillery and boots on the ground."
The Ukrainian government, he added, "is absolutely open. We want to have talks. We don't want to have any kind of military action."
Yatsenyuk addressed the council in English but at one point turned to address the Russian Federation representative directly in Russian, saying (according to the provided translation): "I'm sure — as the prime minister of Ukraine, which for decades had warm and friendly relations with Russia — convinced that Russians do not want war."
He added, "And I hope that the Russian government and the Russian president will heed the wishes of their people and return to dialogue to resolve this conflict."
Meanwhile, near its border with Ukraine, Russia conducted new military maneuvers Thursday, as President Vladimir Putin said his country should not be blamed for what he called Ukraine's "internal crisis."
