Merkel: US diplomat´s words ´totally unacceptable´

BERLIN: German Chancellor Angela Merkel has strongly criticized a comment that a senior U.S. diplomat made about the European Union´s role in Ukraine.

Merkel´s spokeswoman says the German leader considers the comment by the top U.S. diplomat for Europe, Victoria Nuland, to be "absolutely unacceptable.

"In a leaked recording, a voice resembling Nuland´s is heard saying "F--- the EU," suggesting that the EU´s position on Ukraine should be ignored.

Wirtz told reporters in Berlin on Friday that Germany believes EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton "is doing a marvelous job" trying to mediate between the government and opposition in Ukraine.