A diplomat has apparently been caught out saying something very undiplomatic.
“Fuck the EU,” the Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs Victoria Nuland reportedly said in a private telephone call that was intercepted and leaked online.
The bugged phone conversation, apparently with the US ambassador to Ukraine, was reportedly referring to slow-moving European efforts to address the ongoing crisis in Ukraine.
In the video, the female speaker can be heard mentioning the UN and its possible role in trying to find a solution to the Ukraine troubles.
She says: "So that would be great, I think, to help glue this thing and have the UN help glue it and you know..." she then dismisses the EU rather passionately.
The male replies: "We've got to do something to make it stick together, because you can be pretty sure that if it does start to gain altitude the Russians will be working behind the scenes to try to torpedo it."
The White House has immediately blamed Russia for bugging and leaking the embarrassing telephone conversation.
Russia and the US have accused each other and the EU of meddling in Ukraine.
State department spokeswoman Jen Psaki suggested that the tape could have been leaked by Moscow, pointing out that a senior Russian official was one of the first to draw attention to the audio.
She said: "We think this is a new low in Russian trade-craft. This is something they've been actively promoting, posting on, tweeting about."
White House spokesman Jay Carney added: "I would say that since the video was first noted and tweeted out by the Russian government, I think it says something about Russia's role."
An aide to Russian Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin shared the clip on Twitter Wednesday before it had gained widespread notice. “Sort of controversial judgment from Assistant Secretary of State Victoria Nuland speaking about the EU,” he wrote.
US officials refused to confirm or deny the tape's authenticity, but Ms Psaki said: "I didn't say it was inauthentic."
The US said Ms Nuland had "apologised for these reported comments".
Ukraine Protest clashes
Protests Continue In Kiev As The Opposition Calls For A Snap Election(01 of25)
KIEV, UKRAINE - JANUARY 24: Anti-government protesters set fire to tyres near Dynamo Stadium on January 24, 2014 in Kiev, Ukraine. After two months of primarily peaceful anti-government protests in the city center, new laws meant to end the protest movement have sparked violent clashes in recent days. (Photo by Brendan Hoffman/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Protests Continue In Kiev As The Opposition Calls For A Snap Election(02 of25)
KIEV, UKRAINE - JANUARY 24: Anti-government protesters set fire to tyres near Dynamo Stadium on January 24, 2014 in Kiev, Ukraine. After two months of primarily peaceful anti-government protests in the city center, new laws meant to end the protest movement have sparked violent clashes in recent days. (Photo by Brendan Hoffman/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Protests Continue In Kiev As The Opposition Calls For A Snap Election(03 of25)
KIEV, UKRAINE - JANUARY 24: Anti-government protesters maintain a perimeter as police stand in the distance near Dynamo Stadium on January 24, 2014 in Kiev, Ukraine. After two months of primarily peaceful anti-government protests in the city center, new laws meant to end the protest movement have sparked violent clashes in recent days. (Photo by Brendan Hoffman/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Protests Continue In Kiev As The Opposition Calls For A Snap Election(04 of25)
KIEV, UKRAINE - JANUARY 24: Anti-government protesters stand guard near barricades constructed to help maintain their occupation of Independence Square on January 24, 2014 in Kiev, Ukraine. After two months of primarily peaceful anti-government protests in the city center, new laws meant to end the protest movement have sparked violent clashes in recent days. (Photo by Brendan Hoffman/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Protests Continue In Kiev As The Opposition Calls For A Snap Election(05 of25)
KIEV, UKRAINE - JANUARY 24: Police block the road near the Ukrainian Cabinet of Ministers building on January 24, 2014 in Kiev, Ukraine. After two months of primarily peaceful anti-government protests in the city center, new laws meant to end the protest movement have sparked violent clashes in recent days. (Photo by Brendan Hoffman/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Protests Continue In Kiev As The Opposition Calls For A Snap Election(06 of25)
KIEV, UKRAINE - JANUARY 24: Anti-government protesters climb on top of burned-out buses near Dynamo Stadium on January 24, 2014 in Kiev, Ukraine. After two months of primarily peaceful anti-government protests in the city center, new laws meant to end the protest movement have sparked violent clashes in recent days. (Photo by Brendan Hoffman/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Protests Continue In Kiev As The Opposition Calls For A Snap Election(07 of25)
KIEV, UKRAINE - JANUARY 24: Anti-government protesters set fire to tyres near Dynamo Stadium on January 24, 2014 in Kiev, Ukraine. After two months of primarily peaceful anti-government protests in the city center, new laws meant to end the protest movement have sparked violent clashes in recent days. (Photo by Brendan Hoffman/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Vitali Klitschko(08 of25)
Opposition leader and former WBC heavyweight boxing champion Vitali Klitschko, left, addresses protesters near the barricades between police and protesters in central Kiev, Ukraine, early Friday Jan. 24, 2014. Emerging from hours-long talks with President Viktor Yanukovych, opposition leader Oleh Tyahnybok asked demonstrators in Kiev for several more days of a truce, saying the president has agreed to ensure the release of dozens of detained protesters and stop further detentions. (AP Photo/Sergei Grits) (credit:AP)
(09 of25)
Orthodox priests pray as they stand between pro-European Union activists and police lines in central Kiev, Ukraine, early Friday, Jan. 24, 2014. A top Ukrainian opposition leader on Thursday urged protesters to maintain a shaky cease-fire with police after at least two demonstrators were killed in clashes this week, but some in the crowd appeared defiant, jeering and chanting "revolution" and "shame." (AP Photo/Sergei Grits) (credit:AP)
UKRAINE-EU-RUSSI-UNREST-POLITICS(10 of25)
Activists of Euromaidan stand guard as other protesters build a new barricade in the center of the Kiev on the night of January 24, 2014. Crunch talks between the opposition and President Viktor Yanukovych failed Thursday to end Ukraine's crisis but an uneasy truce held after five days of deadly clashes between protesters and security forces. Ukraine's three main opposition leaders held several hours of talks with Yanukovych but the relatively minor concessions offered by the president were greeted with derision by tens of thousands of protesters on Independence Square in Kiev. AFP PHOTO/ SERGEI SUPINSKY (Photo credit should read SERGEI SUPINSKY/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
UKRAINE-EU-RUSSI-UNREST-POLITICS(11 of25)
Activists of Euromaidan build a new barricade in the center of the Kiev night on January 24, 2014. Crunch talks between the opposition and President Viktor Yanukovych failed Thursday to end Ukraine's crisis but an uneasy truce held after five days of deadly clashes between protesters and security forces. Ukraine's three main opposition leaders held several hours of talks with Yanukovych but the relatively minor concessions offered by the president were greeted with derision by tens of thousands of protesters on Independence Square in Kiev. AFP PHOTO/ SERGEI SUPINSKY (Photo credit should read SERGEI SUPINSKY/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Protests Continue In Kiev As The Opposition Calls For A Snap Election(12 of25)
KIEV, UKRAINE - JANUARY 24: Policeman block Bankova street on January 24, 2014 in Kiev, Ukraine. Talks to resolve the political stalemate in Ukraine have failed as anti-government protests continue in the capital and opposition leader Vitali Klitschko urges the government to call a snap election. (Photo by Rob Stothard/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Protests Continue In Kiev As The Opposition Calls For A Snap Election(13 of25)
KIEV, UKRAINE - JANUARY 24: Policeman block Bankova street on January 24, 2014 in Kiev, Ukraine. Talks to resolve the political stalemate in Ukraine have failed as anti-government protests continue in the capital and opposition leader Vitali Klitschko urges the government to call a snap election. (Photo by Rob Stothard/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Protests Continue In Kiev As The Opposition Calls For A Snap Election(14 of25)
KIEV, UKRAINE - JANUARY 24: Protestors armed with shields and crude weapons, including sticks and chains, gather on Instytutska Street on January 24, 2014 in Kiev, Ukraine. Talks to resolve the political stalemate in Ukraine have failed as anti-government protests continue in the capital and opposition leader Vitali Klitschko urges the government to call a snap election. (Photo by Rob Stothard/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Protests Continue In Kiev As The Opposition Calls For A Snap Election(15 of25)
KIEV, UKRAINE - JANUARY 24: Protestors pay their respects at a tribute to a man killed during clashes with police near Independence Square on January 24, 2014 in Kiev, Ukraine. Talks to resolve the political stalemate in Ukraine have failed as anti-government protests continue in the capital and opposition leader Vitali Klitschko urges the government to call a snap election. (Photo by Rob Stothard/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Protests Continue In Kiev As The Opposition Calls For A Snap Election(16 of25)
KIEV, UKRAINE - JANUARY 24: Protestors armed with metal shields prepare to march from Independence Square on January 24, 2014 in Kiev, Ukraine. Talks to resolve the political stalemate in Ukraine have failed as anti-government protests continue in the capital and opposition leader Vitali Klitschko urges the government to call a snap election. (Photo by Rob Stothard/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
UKRAINE-EU-RUSSI-UNREST-POLITICS(17 of25)
Activists of Euromaidan stand guard as other protesters build a new barricade in the center of the Kiev on the night of January 24, 2014. Crunch talks between the opposition and President Viktor Yanukovych failed Thursday to end Ukraine's crisis but an uneasy truce held after five days of deadly clashes between protesters and security forces. Ukraine's three main opposition leaders held several hours of talks with Yanukovych but the relatively minor concessions offered by the president were greeted with derision by tens of thousands of protesters on Independence Square in Kiev. AFP PHOTO/ SERGEI SUPINSKY (Photo credit should read SERGEI SUPINSKY/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
UKRAINE-EU-RUSSI-UNREST-POLITICS(18 of25)
Activists of Euromaidan stand guard as other protesters build a new barricade in the center of the Kiev on the night of January 24, 2014. Crunch talks between the opposition and President Viktor Yanukovych failed Thursday to end Ukraine's crisis but an uneasy truce held after five days of deadly clashes between protesters and security forces. Ukraine's three main opposition leaders held several hours of talks with Yanukovych but the relatively minor concessions offered by the president were greeted with derision by tens of thousands of protesters on Independence Square in Kiev. AFP PHOTO/ SERGEI SUPINSKY (Photo credit should read SERGEI SUPINSKY/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
UKRAINE-EU-RUSSI-UNREST-POLITICS(19 of25)
Activists of Euromaidan build a new barricade in the center of the Kiev night on January 24, 2014. Crunch talks between the opposition and President Viktor Yanukovych failed Thursday to end Ukraine's crisis but an uneasy truce held after five days of deadly clashes between protesters and security forces. Ukraine's three main opposition leaders held several hours of talks with Yanukovych but the relatively minor concessions offered by the president were greeted with derision by tens of thousands of protesters on Independence Square in Kiev. AFP PHOTO/ SERGEI SUPINSKY (Photo credit should read SERGEI SUPINSKY/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
(20 of25)
Protesters stand on the barricade in central Kiev, Ukraine, early Friday Jan. 24, 2014. A top Ukrainian opposition leader on Thursday urged protesters to maintain a shaky cease-fire with police after at least two demonstrators were killed in clashes this week, but some in the crowd appeared defiant, jeering and chanting "revolution" and "shame." (AP Photo/Sergei Grits) (credit:AP)
(21 of25)
Protesters warm themselves behind the barricade in central Kiev, Ukraine, early Friday Jan. 24, 2014. top Ukrainian opposition leader on Thursday urged protesters to maintain a shaky cease-fire with police after at least two demonstrators were killed in clashes this week, but some in the crowd appeared defiant, jeering and chanting "revolution" and "shame." (AP Photo/Sergei Grits) (credit:AP)
(22 of25)
Protesters clean tires from the street as Orthodox priests pray standing between pro-European Union activists and police lines in central Kiev, Ukraine, early Friday, Jan. 24, 2014. A top Ukrainian opposition leader on Thursday urged protesters to maintain a shaky cease-fire with police after at least two demonstrators were killed in clashes this week, but some in the crowd appeared defiant, jeering and chanting "revolution" and "shame." (AP Photo/Sergei Grits) (credit:AP)
Protests Continue In Kiev As The Opposition Calls For A Snap Election(23 of25)
KIEV, UKRAINE - JANUARY 24: Protestors armed with shields and crude weapons, including sticks and chains, gather on Instytutska Street on January 24, 2014 in Kiev, Ukraine. Talks to resolve the political stalemate in Ukraine have failed as anti-government protests continue in the capital and opposition leader Vitali Klitschko urges the government to call a snap election. (Photo by Rob Stothard/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
(24 of25)
A protester warms himself behind the barricade in central Kiev, Ukraine, early Friday Jan. 24, 2014. A top Ukrainian opposition leader on Thursday urged protesters to maintain a shaky cease-fire with police after at least two demonstrators were killed in clashes this week, but some in the crowd appeared defiant, jeering and chanting "revolution" and "shame." (AP Photo/Sergei Grits) (credit:AP)
Protests Continue In Kiev As The Opposition Calls For A Snap Election(25 of25)
KIEV, UKRAINE - JANUARY 24: Incendiary projectiles are ready to be used by anti-government protesters near Dynamo Stadium on January 24, 2014 in Kiev, Ukraine. After two months of primarily peaceful anti-government protests in the city center, new laws meant to end the protest movement have sparked violent clashes in recent days. (Photo by Brendan Hoffman/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)