French President Emmanuel Macron has issued a stark warning to fellow European leaders, suggesting the United States might betray Ukraine over territorial concessions in ongoing peace negotiations. The alarming claim was reportedly made during a confidential call between heads of state, details of which were obtained by German magazine Der Spiegel.
Leaked Call Reveals Deep European Anxieties
According to an English summary of the call, which took place on Monday, Macron expressed fundamental doubts about Washington's approach. He stated there is "a chance that the US will betray Ukraine on territory, without clarity on security guarantees." The French leader described the current tense phase of diplomacy as harbouring a "big danger" for Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who was also a participant in the discussion.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz echoed these grave concerns, advising President Zelenskyy to be "very careful." Merz was quoted as saying, "They are playing games with both you and us," an apparent reference to a diplomatic mission to Moscow by Donald Trump's envoy, Steve Witkoff, and Trump's son-in-law, Jared Kushner. That visit saw the pair spend five hours in talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin at the Kremlin this Tuesday.
Unity in Concern: European Leaders Rally Around Kyiv
The leaked summary indicates a shared sense of apprehension among European leaders. Finland's President Alexander Stubb, who has bonded with Trump over golf, warned, "we must not leave Ukraine and Volodymyr alone with these guys." Even NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, often publicly complimentary of Trump, reportedly agreed, stating the need "to protect Volodymyr."
Der Spiegel confirmed the call's occurrence with several participants, and two sources stated the remarks were accurately reproduced. While the Élysée Palace contested the quotes attributed to Macron, and offices for Zelenskyy and Merz declined to comment, the leak paints a picture of significant transatlantic friction.
The Context: A US Peace Plan and European Fears
This diplomatic row follows Washington's presentation last month of a 28-point proposal to halt the war. The plan was drafted without input from Ukraine's European allies and has been criticised for closely reflecting Moscow's maximalist demands. A flurry of subsequent diplomacy has included US-Ukrainian talks in Geneva and Florida.
The situation has prompted strong reactions from other European officials. German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius warned the Bundestag that an imposed peace would be "disastrous" for both Kyiv and European security. "A Ukraine which is militarily beaten or potentially even defeated at the negotiating table... would put Europe’s security at risk," he stated.
In a parallel opinion piece, Chancellor Merz argued for using frozen Russian assets to support Ukraine and emphasised European self-reliance. "The question of European independence is being decided today," Merz wrote, stressing that Europeans must shape their own continental security. The coming days, including a planned meeting between Witkoff and Ukraine's security chief Rustem Umerov in Miami, will be crucial in testing these fragile alliances.
