BERLIN (AP) — 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.