U.N. Security Council to hold emergency meeting over Russian missile attacks, at Ukraine’s request

The emergency meeting has been convened at Ukraine’s initiative in response to intensified missile attacks by Russia and is scheduled for the evening Kyiv time, Ukrinform reports.

The meeting will begin at 15:00 Eastern Time (21:00 in Kyiv). The United States holds the presidency of the Security Council in March, so the session will be chaired by U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau.

U.N. Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs Rosemary DiCarlo and a representative of the U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs are expected to brief the council on the security and humanitarian situation in Ukraine, amid ongoing Russian attacks.

The meeting comes against the backdrop of intensified shelling of Ukrainian cities and critical infrastructure, which has caused destruction and civilian casualties.

Ukrainian diplomats have previously stressed that a just peace is impossible without holding Russia accountable for war crimes.