Russia-Ukraine standoff: US, Russian officials face off at UN security council

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The United Nations (UN) security council convened on Thursday to discuss the mounting threat of a Russian invasion of Ukraine.

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken laid out how Washington believes Russia could seek to invade Ukraine, warning that Moscow was preparing to attack its neighbor in the "coming days."

The Russian deputy foreign minister rejected Blinken's statement as a "regrettable" and "dangerous" move that further fuels tensions. He said Russian forces remain on Russian territory and some units were already returning to their bases following exercises.

The meeting came amid high tensions after the United States accused Russia of deploying some 150,000 troops near Ukraine's borders in recent weeks. Russia has said it has no plans to invade Ukraine and accuses the West of hysteria.

Earlier on Thursday, Russian-backed separatists and Ukrainian government forces traded accusations of firing shells across the ceasefire line in eastern Ukraine, in what Kyiv said appeared to be an act of "provocation."