UNITED NATIONS: Russia is trying for the third time to get the U.N. Security Council to demand a cease-fire in eastern Ukraine where government forces have launched an offensive against pro-Russian separatists.
Russia's U.N. Ambassador Vitaly Churkin warned that if the situation is allowed "to get out of hand ... it will have really dramatic, tragic consequences" for the entire country.
He told reporters he circulated key elements for a proposed draft resolution to council members on Friday and asked for reactions by Monday morning.
The proposed elements would have the council express deep concern at the increase in civilian casualties, support international plans to settle the crisis, demand that both sides stop the violence, and call for international monitoring to promote a settlement of the conflict.