OREANDA-NEWS  The United States has refused to issue a visa to Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Alimov to attend a meeting of the UN Security Council. This was announced by Russia's permanent representative to the organization Vasily Nebenzia, RIA Novosti reports.

"Despite all our attempts to get the American side to issue him a visa, it was never issued to him," the diplomat said.

Earlier, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said he was deeply concerned about Russia's announcement of plans to strike Kiev. He also condemned the attack on an educational institution in Starobilsk and called for avoiding any escalation of the conflict.