MOSCOW
UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has expressed his "deep concern" over the tense political situation in Ukraine after holding talks in Moscow with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov.
Putin told Ban his country supported the United Nations having a central role on international matters and appreciated its efforts and effective role in the solution of global crises, according to a statement released by the Kremlin Press Center on Thursday.
Saying he was deeply worried over Ukraine as a UN Secretary General, Ban said, “Russia is not only one of the leading UN members, but also a strong actor in the international arena.”
The Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement, “The situation in Ukraine was taken up at the meeting between Ban and Lavrov where a political crisis had been created as a result of unconstitutionally changed government.”
Ban is due to go on to Kiev where he will meet Acting Ukrainian President Oleksandr Turchynov and Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk.
He will also have a get together with the members of UN Human Rights Observer Mission and representatives of civil societies during his stay in the Ukrainian capital.
englishnews@aa.com.tr
