<span style="color: #222222;">The United States stepped up criticism of Russia for its conflict with Ukraine on Thursday, September 22, during the UN's Security Council meeting.<br />''</span><br />''US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said that Russia chose not to ease tensions, but to escalate. He also said that the international order is being shredded before our eyes.<br />'' <br />''Mr. Blinken also said that every Council member should send a clear message that Russia's nuclear threat must stop immediately.<br />''<br />''Earlier, in an opening address, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said, the latest developments in Ukraine are dangerous and disturbing and debate around possible nuclear conflict was totally unacceptable.<br />'' <br />''<span style="color: #222222;">On other hand, addressing the Council, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said that Ukraine has become a totalitarian state. Mr. Lavrov also blamed the Western military support for Ukraine for prolonging the conflict.</span><br />