"The core issue remains – is the EU willing to give up launch aid?

"We stand by the January 11 agreement. The United States has a unified position on this issue. This is the table that was set. The EU keeps wandering away from the table.

"We’re very willing to continue talking using the January 11 agreement as the basis, and we’re willing to extend the terms of the January 11 agreement past the deadline. We’re even willing to use Commissioner Mandelson’s idea from February 11 to try to implement the January 11 agreement.

"The problem is that on yesterday’s call he indicated that his own February 11 proposal is unbalanced. The EU keeps wanting to stray farther and farther from the January 11 agreement.

"The problem is that over the last two months the EU has been focused more on maneuvering than on negotiating the core substance.

"With regards to EU surprise regarding the U.S. position and view of yesterday’s call, it was Commissioner Mandelson who terminated yesterday’s call."