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| US thinks UN chief too accommodating to Moscow, leaked files suggest | |
| (about 5 hours later) | |
| Antonio Guterres (C) visited war-ravaged Ukraine in April of last year | Antonio Guterres (C) visited war-ravaged Ukraine in April of last year |
| The US believes the UN Secretary General is too willing to accommodate Russian interests, according to fresh revelations in classified documents leaked online. | |
| The files suggest Washington has been closely monitoring Antonio Guterres. | The files suggest Washington has been closely monitoring Antonio Guterres. |
| Several documents describe private communications involving Mr Guterres and his deputy. | Several documents describe private communications involving Mr Guterres and his deputy. |
| It is the latest from a leak of secret documents, which US officials are scrambling to get to the bottom of. | It is the latest from a leak of secret documents, which US officials are scrambling to get to the bottom of. |
| The documents contain candid observations from Mr Guterres about the war in Ukraine and a number of African leaders. | The documents contain candid observations from Mr Guterres about the war in Ukraine and a number of African leaders. |
| One leaked document focuses on the Black Sea grain deal, brokered by the UN and Turkey in July following fears of a global food crisis. | One leaked document focuses on the Black Sea grain deal, brokered by the UN and Turkey in July following fears of a global food crisis. |
| It suggests that Mr Guterres was so keen to preserve the deal that he was willing to accommodate Russia's interests. | It suggests that Mr Guterres was so keen to preserve the deal that he was willing to accommodate Russia's interests. |
| "Guterres emphasised his efforts to improve Russia's ability to export," the document says, "even if that involves sanctioned Russian entities or individuals." | "Guterres emphasised his efforts to improve Russia's ability to export," the document says, "even if that involves sanctioned Russian entities or individuals." |
| His actions in February, according to the assessment, were "undermining broader efforts to hold Moscow accountable for its actions in Ukraine." | His actions in February, according to the assessment, were "undermining broader efforts to hold Moscow accountable for its actions in Ukraine." |
| UN officials bristled at the suggestion that the world's top diplomat was being soft on Moscow. | UN officials bristled at the suggestion that the world's top diplomat was being soft on Moscow. |
| Saying he wouldn't comment on leaked documents, one senior official said the UN was "driven by the need to mitigate the impact of the war on the world's poorest." | Saying he wouldn't comment on leaked documents, one senior official said the UN was "driven by the need to mitigate the impact of the war on the world's poorest." |
| "That means doing what we can to drive down the price of food," he added, "and to ensure that fertiliser is accessible to those countries that need it the most." | "That means doing what we can to drive down the price of food," he added, "and to ensure that fertiliser is accessible to those countries that need it the most." |
| Russia has frequently complained that its own exports of grain and fertiliser are being adversely affected by international sanctions, and has threatened at least twice to suspend co-operation with the grain deal unless its concerns are addressed. | |
| Russian grain and fertilizer are not subject to international sanctions, but Russia says it has experienced difficulties with securing shipping and insurance. | Russian grain and fertilizer are not subject to international sanctions, but Russia says it has experienced difficulties with securing shipping and insurance. |
| UN officials are clearly unhappy with America's interpretation of Mr Guterres' efforts. And they say that Mr Guterres has made his opposition to Russia's war very clear. | UN officials are clearly unhappy with America's interpretation of Mr Guterres' efforts. And they say that Mr Guterres has made his opposition to Russia's war very clear. |
| More Pentagon leaks coverage: | |
| How secret files appeared online, then began to vanish | |
| Western special forces inside Ukraine, leak shows | |
| Key takeaways from leaked files | |
| Another document from mid-February describes a frank conversation between Mr Guterres and his deputy, Amina Mohammed. | Another document from mid-February describes a frank conversation between Mr Guterres and his deputy, Amina Mohammed. |
| In it, Mr Guterres expresses "dismay" at a call from the European Commission President, Ursula von der Leyen, for Europe to produce more weapons and ammunition as a result of the war in Ukraine. | |
| The two also talk about a recent summit of African leaders. Amina Mohammed says that Kenya's president, William Ruto, is "ruthless" and that she "doesn't trust him." | The two also talk about a recent summit of African leaders. Amina Mohammed says that Kenya's president, William Ruto, is "ruthless" and that she "doesn't trust him." |
| It's well known that America is among a number of nations which routinely spy on the UN - but when the products of that espionage come to light, it's highly embarrassing and, for the world's leading diplomat, potentially damaging. | It's well known that America is among a number of nations which routinely spy on the UN - but when the products of that espionage come to light, it's highly embarrassing and, for the world's leading diplomat, potentially damaging. |
| The first screenshots of the documents the BBC has been able to verify appeared on Discord - a social media platform popular with gamers - and were shared on several discussion channels. | The first screenshots of the documents the BBC has been able to verify appeared on Discord - a social media platform popular with gamers - and were shared on several discussion channels. |
| Discord said on Wednesday that it was co-operating with law enforcement in its investigation into the leak. | |
| US national security spokesperson John Kirby told the BBC that the US government was scrambling to get to the bottom of the leaks. | US national security spokesperson John Kirby told the BBC that the US government was scrambling to get to the bottom of the leaks. |
| "This was a series of dangerous leaks. We don't know who's responsible, we don't know why. And we are assessing the national security implications, and right now there is also a criminal investigation," he said on Wednesday. | |
| "We want to get to the bottom of this, we want to find out who did this and why." | "We want to get to the bottom of this, we want to find out who did this and why." |
| Washington was "reaching out actively" to allies to answer questions they have about the leaks, so they know "how seriously we are taking this", he added. | Washington was "reaching out actively" to allies to answer questions they have about the leaks, so they know "how seriously we are taking this", he added. |
| Mr Kirby said that while the authenticity of some of the documents had yet to be established, they "certainly appear to have come from various source of intelligence across the government". | Mr Kirby said that while the authenticity of some of the documents had yet to be established, they "certainly appear to have come from various source of intelligence across the government". |
| Related Topics | Related Topics |
| Russia-Ukraine war | Russia-Ukraine war |
| Russia | Russia |
| United Nations | United Nations |
| Antonio Guterres | Antonio Guterres |