Ban Ki-moon says East Ukraine vote "unfortunate and counterproductive"

United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said on Tuesday that holding of separatist elections in eastern Ukraine at the weekend was "unfortunate and counterproductive".

"The quote and unquote elections in the eastern part of the country this past Sunday are an unfortunate and counterproductive development," Ban said.

The UN secretary-general, addressing the Vienna-based Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, said the situation in Ukraine remained a matter of deep concern.

He urged all conflict parties to demonstrate their readiness to fulfill agreements reached in Minsk.