Russia does not want war with Ukraine

Russia 'does not want war' with Ukraine, a senior Russian diplomat has said.

Russian ambassador, Vitaly Churkin, made the comments during an emergency meeting of the United Nations Security Council while responding to a direct question from Ukraine's interim PM Arseniy Yatsenyuk.

Churkin gave an impassioned defence of Crimea's right to hold a referendum on whether to join Russia, the BBC reports.

According to the report, Yatsenyuk told the UNSC that Ukraine was a victim of Russian aggression.

But he said he still believed 'there was a chance to resolve this conflict in a peaceful manner' and urged Moscow to meet for direct talks, the report added.