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| In purported recording of U.S. diplomat, blunt talk on Ukraine | In purported recording of U.S. diplomat, blunt talk on Ukraine |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| When diplomats are overheard being undiplomatic, the result can be awkward. | When diplomats are overheard being undiplomatic, the result can be awkward. |
| Such was the case on Thursday, with the leaking of audio from what appeared to be a phone call in which the top American diplomat for Europe can be heard discussing the political crisis in Ukraine. In the recording, a speaker who sounds like Assistant Secretary of State for Europe Victoria Nuland makes a profane assessment of the European Union’s efforts to resolve the crisis and bluntly assesses the political skills of Ukrainian opposition figures. | Such was the case on Thursday, with the leaking of audio from what appeared to be a phone call in which the top American diplomat for Europe can be heard discussing the political crisis in Ukraine. In the recording, a speaker who sounds like Assistant Secretary of State for Europe Victoria Nuland makes a profane assessment of the European Union’s efforts to resolve the crisis and bluntly assesses the political skills of Ukrainian opposition figures. |
| “F--- the E.U.,” the speaker says, dismissively referring to slow-moving diplomatic efforts to address political paralysis and a looming fiscal crisis in the country. | “F--- the E.U.,” the speaker says, dismissively referring to slow-moving diplomatic efforts to address political paralysis and a looming fiscal crisis in the country. |
| The United Nations, she adds, is trying to help faster. | The United Nations, she adds, is trying to help faster. |
| It’s unclear who posted the recording, which surfaced on YouTube on Thursday, just as Nuland arrived in Ukraine for talks. Illicitly recorded material, however, is a staple of politics in the former Soviet Union and is known by its Russian name “kompromat,” meaning “compromising materials.” | It’s unclear who posted the recording, which surfaced on YouTube on Thursday, just as Nuland arrived in Ukraine for talks. Illicitly recorded material, however, is a staple of politics in the former Soviet Union and is known by its Russian name “kompromat,” meaning “compromising materials.” |
| The State Department did not immediately respond to inquiries about the recording, nor did Nuland, a former State Department spokeswoman and former ambassador to NATO. Asked about the recording, White House press secretary Jay Carney declined to comment on its authenticity but suggested Russia, which has bristled at U.S. involvement in Ukraine, was a potential source for the leak. | |
| “The video was first noted and tweeted out by the Russian government, I think it says something about Russia’s role,” he told reporters. | |
| The release of the audio followed Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovich’s offer to include two senior members of the opposition movement in his government. | |
| In the recording, Nuland appears to be discussing the situation with U.S. Ambassador Geoffrey Pyatt. The two speakers refer to the Jan. 25 offer, to discussions between opposition figures and the Yanukovich government, and to personality problems and rivalries among the three top opposition figures. | |
| The speaker who sounds like Nuland bluntly says she does not want to see opposition leader Vitali Klitschko join the government, and her colleague agrees. | |
| “I don’t think it’s necessary,” she says. “I don’t think it’s a good idea.” | “I don’t think it’s necessary,” she says. “I don’t think it’s a good idea.” |
| She says another leader, “Yats,” has the economic experience both the Americans apparently think Klitschko lacks. That is apparently a reference to opposition leader Arseniy Yatseniuk, who was offered the post of prime minister. Klitschko was offered the post of deputy prime minister. Both men declined. | She says another leader, “Yats,” has the economic experience both the Americans apparently think Klitschko lacks. That is apparently a reference to opposition leader Arseniy Yatseniuk, who was offered the post of prime minister. Klitschko was offered the post of deputy prime minister. Both men declined. |
| The conversation ends with the speaker who sounds like Nuland offering to arrange a phone call from Vice President Biden to help keep pressure on Yanukovich to make political concessions and address the underlying fiscal crisis. Biden, she says, can give an “attaboy,” presumably to Yanukovich. The two have spoken several times over the past month. | The conversation ends with the speaker who sounds like Nuland offering to arrange a phone call from Vice President Biden to help keep pressure on Yanukovich to make political concessions and address the underlying fiscal crisis. Biden, she says, can give an “attaboy,” presumably to Yanukovich. The two have spoken several times over the past month. |