Ukraine 'outraged' by UN chief's remarks on Russia

Russian President Vladimir Putin, right, listens to U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon during their talks at the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum in St.Petersburg, Russia, Thursday, June 16, 2016. (AP Photo/Dmitry Lovetsky) (The Associated Press)

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Russian President Vladimir Putin, right, and U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon meet at the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum in St. Petersburg, Russia, Thursday, June 16, 2016. (AP Photo/Dmitry Lovetsky) (The Associated Press)

Russian President Vladimir Putin, second left, meets with U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon at the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum in St. Petersburg, Russia, Thursday, June 16, 2016. At right is Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov. (AP Photo/Dmitry Lovetsky) (The Associated Press)

UNITED NATIONS – Ukraine's U.N. ambassador says he is "completely outraged" by Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon's comments in a speech saying Russia has a critical role to play in ending the conflict in his country.

Volodymyr Yelchenko said he doesn't understand how the U.N. chief "can say such things which sort of praise the role of Russia in settling the conflict in Ukraine when the Russian Federation is the main player in aggressing Ukraine and in keeping this conflict boiling."

He said Ban's prepared comments for the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum on Wednesday show he has lost "any moral right" to say anything about the conflict in Ukraine and Russia's annexation of Crimea.

Yelchenko said Ukraine is sending a protest letter to the 193-member General Assembly asking for a correction and explanation.