UNITED NATIONS: The UN Security Council on Friday was holding its 13th emergency meeting on the growing crisis in Ukraine at the request of Russia, whose ambassador Vitaly Churkin demanded a “swift halt of all violence.”

But Western powers on the council accused Russia of equipping and funding the pro-Russia forces that have seized government buildings in 10 eastern cities. Ukraine on Friday launched its first major offensive against the insurgency.

“Russia ... has released bands of thugs on Ukraine ... and is suddenly discovering this mixture might escape its control,” French ambassador Gerard Araud said.

Russia called this latest council meeting, the second in a week. Churkin called on Kiev and its Western “enablers ... to not commit a fatal error” and stop the offensive, which he described as “criminal misadventures.”

But British Ambassador Mark Lyall Grant retorted that “Russia’s synthetic indignation convinces no one,” and US Ambassador Samantha Power said Russia was “trying to insult the intelligence of the world community” by calling another urgent council meeting. The prospect for any council action on the crisis in Ukraine is highly unlikely. Russia holds veto power as a permanent council member.

Frustration soared, and Araud despaired at the council’s “impotence.”