The conflict between France and Germany is not new. The enmity between the two neighbours has become entrenched in the hearts of their peoples since the Franco-Prussian War of 1870-1871.

This conflict took military, economic, and even social forms, and continued during the first and second world wars. However, with the establishment of the EU and the unification of the European currency, it subdued.

The two countries are considered a cornerstone of the EU, as they have the two largest economies on the continent.

The assistant US secretary of state, Victoria Nuland, has apologised after her phone conversation about the political crisis in Ukraine was leaked on the internet. The call between Nuland and a US ambassador focused on the future of the country if it gains a new government. Nuland declined to comment on 'private diplomatic conversations'

Earlier this week CNN reported that the Biden administration is considering "dramatically" increasing its training of Ukrainian forces. The proposal would involve US advisers training "much larger groups of Ukrainian soldiers in more sophisticated battlefield tactics" at American installations in Germany, and possibly other locations in Europe.

The American leadership intends to work closely with Europe, helping it diversify energy resources and transition to clean energy in the future, US President Joe Biden said.

The United States is instigating violations of international law by its speculations about the need for resuming the production of military equipment in Europe under Soviet licenses for subsequent supplies to Ukraine, the Federal Service for Military-Technical Cooperation said on its website.

The European Union reached a deal on Friday to cap Russian oil at $60 a barrel, paving the way for G7 nations to launch an 'unprecedented mechanism,' as the Wall Street Journal reports.