In a public showdown Monday at the United Nations Security Council, the U.S. accused Russia of undermining international peace and security by massing troops on the Ukrainian border.

Iran PressAmerica: Tensions between Russia and the United States have risen sharply in recent months over various issues, including the crisis in eastern Ukraine and recent US sanctions against Moscow.

The United States and Russia engaged in a bitter diplomatic brawl Monday at the UN Security Council over the Ukraine crisis, as the Americans accused the Russians of endangering peace by massing troops on Ukraine’s borders while Kremlin diplomats dismissed what they called the hysterical US fearmongering.

In a public showdown Monday at the United Nations Security Council, the US accused Russia of undermining international peace and security by massing troops on the Ukrainian border.

But Russia slapped back, arguing Washington was fear-mongering and forcing an unnecessary debate allegations China later echoed.

Russian Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia that Washington is trying “to whip up hysterics” and use “megaphone diplomacy” by calling the first Security Council meeting on the crisis.

The heated, at times angry, rhetoric at UN headquarters in New York came as some 100,000 Russian troops are positioned along Ukraine’s eastern border with Russia as well as its northern border with Belarus. The US called the Security Council meeting to confront Russia over fears that an invasion is imminent. 219