UNITED NATIONS (REUTERS) - Russia's ambassador to the United Nations said on Monday (Feb 21) that eastern Ukraine had been on the brink of a new "Ukrainian military adventure" that Russia could not allow and vowed it would not let a "new bloodbath" happen in the region.

Speaking at an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council, the Russian ambassador, Mr Vassily Nebenzia, said Moscow is still “open to diplomacy for a diplomatic solution”.

"However, allowing a new bloodbath in the Donbass is something we do not intend to do," he added, referring to the region encompassing Donetsk and Luhansk.

Mr Nebenzia also warned Western powers to "think twice" and not worsen the situation in Ukraine.

Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered the deployment of troops to two breakaway regions in eastern Ukraine after recognising them as independent on Monday, accelerating a crisis the West fears could unleash a major war.