United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon expressed concern about the situation in Ukraine following Sunday's Crimea referendum.
"... deeply disappointed and concerned that the Crimea referendum will only exacerbate this situation," the secretary-general urged de-escalation through the cessation of violence by all parties and through "inclusive national dialogue."
The UN secretary-general's statement followed a failed UN Security Council draft resolution on Saturday to reaffirm Ukraine's "sovereignty, independence, unity, and territorial integrity," and denounce the planned Sunday Crimea referendum as invalid. Russia, a UNSC permanent member, utilized its veto power to block the resolution's passage.
Residents of Crimea voted overwhelmingly on Sunday to secede from Ukraine and join the Russian Federation.
[United Nations]
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