Updated

Ukraine has requested a U.N. Security Council meeting to deal with its crisis.

A senior council diplomat, who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak publicly, confirmed Friday that the council had received the request and members were considering it.

U.N. spokesman Farhan Haq had no immediate comment and referred questioners to the individual Security Council nations.

A Ukrainian request for council help to protect it from Russia would be problematic at best, because Russia is a veto-wielding permanent member of the council and can block any action.

Security Council members generally do not bring issues directly involving permanent members to the body as any action leads to a veto.