| Author (Person) | Rettman, Andrew |
|---|---|
| Series Title | EUObserver |
| Series Details | 07.02.14 |
| Publication Date | 07/02/2014 |
| Content Type | News |
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EUObserver and other news sources reported on the 7 February 2014 of the posting on YouTube of leaked conversations by EU and US diplomats on issues relating to Ukraine. Thought to be leaked by Russia to damage EU-US relations. Subsequently, Victoria Nuland, the Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs at the United States Department of State apologised to EU officials after a voice recording of her using crude language about the EU with the US ambassador to Kyiv had been made available on YouTube. The Guardian wrote 'The frustration of the Obama administration at Europe’s hesitant policy over the pro-democracy protests in Ukraine has been laid bare in a leaked phone conversation between two senior US officials...'. German Chancellor Angela Merkel said the US official's apparent insult of the EU's efforts to mediate in the Ukraine crisis was 'totally unacceptable'. Ms Merkel was said to fully support the work done by EU foreign policy High Representative Catherine Ashton to find a solution to the crisis in Ukraine. EU foreign affairs ministers met in Brussels on the 10 February 2014, where they discussed the Ukrainian issue. Uncertainty was maintained on enlargement perspectives, potential sanctions and Russia, as Ukraine's economic situation deteriorated. The EU foreign affairs ministers' conclusions on Ukraine were welcomed by Yevgeniy Perebiynis, director of the Information department of the Ukrainian foreign ministry, who called them "balanced" and praised the EU for avoiding the term "sanctions". The official also said Kyiv was interested in possible EU financial assistance. Commissioner for Enlargement and European Neighbourhood Policy Štefan Füle continued the EU's political efforts in helping Ukraine to find a solution to the political crisis. He held talks with partners in Kyiv on 11-13 February 2014. On the 14 February 2014, Russia's foreign minister Sergei Lavrov criticzed the EU's role in Ukraine's political crisis. During a visit from German counterpart Frank-Walter Steinmeier, the Russian minister accused the bloc of expanding its "sphere of influence." |
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| Source Link | http://euobserver.com/foreign/123036 |
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| Countries / Regions | Europe, Russia, Ukraine, United States |
