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The meeting has concluded. De-escalation was the theme of the day. American Ambassador Samantha Power had some tough words for Russia and called for the deployment of international observers to Crimea.

.@AmbassadorPower Russia's action is without legal basis. ...It's time for the Russian military intervention in Ukraine to end. — Laura Rozen (@lrozen) March 1, 2014

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You can watch the UN Security Council emergency meeting on Ukraine live now:

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The United Nations Security Council emergency meeting on Ukraine was initially delayed (characteristically enough) by a procedural dispute on the format of the meeting. As one might expect, Russia wanted a private meeting and the rest of the Security Council wanted a public one. It's being reported that Russia caved and the meeting will be open. This means that dignitaries like the Ukrainian ambassador to the UN will be able to attend. Expectations remain low.

Here's a great piece looking at all the times that Russian leaders have criticized other countries for authorizing force without the approval of the United Nations Security Council.

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As high-level meetings take place in the White House, the options for a U.S. response to today's activity are being debated. House Republicans, who want tough sanctions on Russia, are urging action along with others.

Deeply concerned that #Russia will expand its mil intervention in E. #Ukraine - Obama needs to impose "costs" now http://t.co/7V9kWZUmej — John McCain (@SenJohnMcCain) March 1, 2014

It's in his eyes. RT @dandrezner: There's just something about Putin that brings out the neocon in everybody. — Laura Seay (@texasinafrica) March 1, 2014

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The cumulative upshot of today's dramatic events in Ukraine appear to mean one thing. Despite Vladimir Putin's professed indecision over whether he will deploy troops in Ukraine, large parts of Crimea have been seized by unmarked troops.

In Crimea, in the south, scores of heavily armed men fanned out across the center of the regional capital, Simferopol. They wore green camouflage uniforms with no identifying insignia, but they spoke Russian and were clearly part of a Russian military mobilization. In Balaklava, a long column of military vehicles blocking the road to a border post bore Russian plates.

As for what's next, as we noted below, a number of protests by pro-Russian demonstrators, some marked by violence, have taken place in eastern Ukrainian cities. In Kharkiv, the country's second-largest city, a Russian flag was raised over a government building earlier today.

Writing in the New Republic, Julia Ioffe is not optimistic about either NATO or American chances at stopping Putin in his tracks. She also explains why eastern Ukraine is Russia's next target.

Because pessimism conquers all, don't bet that Putin is going to stop once he wrests Crimea from Kiev's orbit. Eastern, Russian-speaking Ukraine—and all its heavy industry—is looking pretty good right now."

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