F*** the EU: Russia suspected of leaking tape of U.S. diplomat letting rip on Ukraine crisis

She made the comment while discussing how to resolve the crisis in Ukraine which is gripped by protests

The US government’s top official in Europe risked triggering a diplomatic crisis after she was caught on tape saying ‘F*** the EU’.

Victoria Nuland, the assistant secretary of state for European Affairs, made the comment while discussing how to resolve the crisis in Ukraine which is gripped by fierce protests.

But her private telephone conversation with Geoffrey Pyatt, the US ambassador to the country, appears to have been intercepted and uploaded onto Youtube by an anonymous user.

In it, she tells her colleague about discussions with other top American officials about how to end the deadlock, and how she wants to appoint a United Nations representative to broker a deal between the government and opposition.

She says of her proposed deal: ‘That would be great to help glue this thing and to have the UN help glue it. And you know, f*** the EU.’

Ukraine has been in chaos since November when its President Viktor Yanukovych, rejected an accord with the European Union and instead strengthened ties with Russia.

The ditching of the accord - discussed for many years as a way integrate the country into Europe – was seen as hugely symbolic and demonstrations gripped the capital Kiev. They turned violent last month when the government brought in tough laws to crackdown on the protestors.



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Her private telephone conversation with Geoffrey Pyatt, the US ambassador to the country, appears to have been intercepted

Terrible scenes at the end of January saw protestors torching police buses and hurling paving stones and petrol bombs; while police responded with tear gas, rubber bullets and water cannon.

The ambassador tells Miss Nuland on the tape ‘I think we’re in play’ about a plan apparently being attempted by the US government to bring the two together, and who should head a new government.



Mr Pyatt adds that he fears if their plan starts taking shape ‘the Russians will try to do something behind the scenes to torpedo it.’

Ukraine has been in chaos since November when its President Viktor Yanukovych, rejected an accord with the European Union



The US last night accused Russia of leaking the tape to do precisely that. It is accompanied by Russian captions. White House spokesman Jay Carney said: ‘The video was first noted and tweeted out by the Russian government. I think it says something about Russia’s role.’

The conversation seems to reflect her frustration with the European Union’s failure to join the USA’s threat of sanctions against Ukraine’s leaders for violently crushing the protests. But the White House claimed Nuland was ‘in contact with her EU counterparts and relations with the EU are stronger than ever.’

The episode will create fresh tension between the US and Russia which are already under strain. Jennifer Psaki, a State department spokeswoman, said the incident represented a ‘new low in Russian tradecraft’.



Today Obama said part of Russian President Vladimir Putin's 'shtick' is to look like the tough guy in Russia. He said that in public, Putin's style is to sit back and look 'a little bored' during joint interviews

Meanwhile today President Barack Obama said part of Russian President Vladimir Putin's 'shtick' is to look like the tough guy in Russia.



Obama says Putin has always treated him with the utmost respect.



He says when he meets with Putin, there's lots of humor and give and take.



But Obama says that in public, Putin's style is to sit back and look 'a little bored' during joint interviews.



During Obama's tenure, the U.S. and Russia have had disagreements over Syria, American fugitive Edward Snowden and human rights.



Obama made the comment in an interview with NBC News that's set to air Friday. Excerpts of the interview are being released in advance.

