Nebenzia said “that they’re all assuring us is going to take place in just a few weeks’ time if not a few days’ time” and while there is “no proof of confirming such as serious accusation”, it “is not preventing people from whipping up hysteria to such an extent that an actual economic impact is already being felt by our Ukrainian neighbours”.

He cited Washington making the case at the Council in 2003 for its invasion of Iraq, claiming it had weapons of mass destruction, which could not be found after the US invasion. Ukraine’s Permanent Representative Sergiy Kyslytsya said his country “is ready to defend itself”. He expressed concerns over the troop build-up which he saw as a threat to his country. He said Kyiv is keeping its lines of diplomacy open but said that Russia should talk and not bring troops to the border. As for Russia’s assertions that it does not plan to invade Ukraine, he said: “Let’s judge by action, not semantic puzzles.”