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An apparently hacked phone conversation during which a senior US diplomat disparages the EU over the Ukraine crisis has been posted online, the BBC reported.

A voice resembling that of Assistant Secretary of State Victoria Nuland refers to the EU using a graphic swear word.

The US said Ms Nuland had "apologised for these reported comments."

The audio also reveals a frank exchange about America's strategy on how to work with Ukraine's main opposition leaders.

The tape appeared on YouTube after Russia had accused Washington of meddling in Ukraine.

The alleged conversation between Ms Nuland and the US Ambassador to Ukraine, Geoffrey Pyatt, appeared on YouTube on Thursday.

The 4min10sec video was entitled "Maidan's puppets" in Russian and also had a transcription of the whole conversation in Russian.

At one point, the female speaker mentions the UN and its possible role in trying to find a solution to the Ukraine stand-off.

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 uses the graphic swear word about the EU.

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 two officials also discuss frankly the merits of the three main Ukrainian opposition leaders - Vitaly Klitschko, Arseniy Yatseniuk and Oleh Tyahnybok - in the conversation.

The female speaker says that Mr Klitschko, the former heavyweight boxing world champion, should not be in any new government. "I don't think it's a good idea."

She adds: "I think Yats (Arseniy Yatseniuk) is the guy who's got the economic experience."

US officials refused to confirm or deny the tape's authenticity, but state department spokeswoman Jan Psaki said: "I didn't say it was inauthentic."

Ms Psaki said Ms Nuland had "been in contact with her EU counterparts and of course has apologised for these reported comments."