The head of the United Nations implored Russian President Vladimir Putin not to attack Ukraine and to “give peace a chance” on Wednesday night as the UN Security Council held its second emergency session this week on the escalating crisis.

The council gathered hours after Russia said rebels in eastern Ukraine had asked Moscow for military assistance, an announcement that immediately fuelled fears that Moscow was laying the groundwork for war.

Also read: Satellite images reveal new deployments by Russia on Ukraine border

“If indeed an operation is being prepared, I have only one thing to say from the bottom of my heart: President Putin, stop your troops from attacking Ukraine. Give peace a chance. Too many people have already died,” UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres told the council.

The council, where Russia holds the rotating presidency this month, was meeting just two days after another emergency session saw no support for Moscow’s decision to recognize two rebel regions of Ukraine as independent and to order Russian troops there for “peacekeeping”.

Also read: Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky warns Russia, says “we will defend ourselves”

Council diplomats are now finalising a draft of a resolution that would declare that Russia is violating the UN Charter, international law, and a 2015 council resolution on Ukraine, a diplomat said, speaking on condition of anonymity because the discussions were private. The resolution would urge Russia to come back into compliance immediately, the diplomat said.

Earlier on Wednesday, diplomats from dozens of countries took the floor at the UN General Assembly to deplore Russia’s actions toward the country and plead for diplomacy.

Also read: What is the Nord Stream 2 pipeline? Explained

Russia and ally Syria defended Moscow’s moves. But even China, which usually takes Russia’s side at the UN, spoke up for the world body’s longstanding principle of respecting countries’ sovereignty and internationally recognized borders, while not mentioning Russia by name.

Echoing a narrative being broadcast to Russians at home, Russian Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia portrayed his country as responding to the plight of beleaguered people in the breakaway areas. Russia claims Ukraine is engaging in violence and oppression, which Ukraine denies.

Also read: Ukraine capital Kyiv mayor declares city emergency

“We urge you today to focus on reining in Kyiv,” Nebenzia said.

Syria accused the West of using the assembly to pressure Moscow.

“The Ukrainian crisis was created by the Western states, led by the United States, to divide people and to undermine Russian security,” Ambassador Bassam al-Sabbagh said.

Also read: Russia closes flight paths along Ukraine border

Meeting a day after Western powers and some other countries imposed new sanctions on Russia, the 193-member General Assembly didn’t take any collective action. But the comments from nearly 70 nations, with more scheduled for Monday, represented the broadest forum of global sentiment since the crisis dramatically escalated this week.