February 6, 2014
Leaked audio reveals embarrassing U.S. exchange on Ukraine, EU
Nuland is heard telling U.S. Ambassador Geoffrey Pyatt that she doesn’t think Vitaly Klitschko, the boxer-turned-politician who is a main opposition leader, should be in a new government.
“So I don’t think Klitsch (Klitschko) should go into the government,” she said in the recording, which appeared to describe events that occurred in late January. “I don’t think it’s necessary. I don’t think it’s a good idea.”
Separately on Thursday, a senior Kremlin aide accused the United States of arming Ukrainian “rebels” and warned Russia could intervene to maintain the security of its neighbor.
“So that would be great, I think, to help glue this thing and have the U.N. help glue it and you know ... $#@! the EU,” she said in the recording, which was accompanied by still pictures of people mentioned in the call.
“I did not say it was not authentic,” State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki said at a news briefing.
Psaki also criticized Russian officials’ publicizing of the tape as “a new low in Russian tradecraft” and denied Washington was trying to meddle or engineer a particular outcome in Kiev.
Connect With Us