French President Emmanuel Macron has issued a stark warning to fellow European leaders, suggesting the United States could betray Ukraine over territorial concessions during peace negotiations. The alarming claim was reportedly made during a confidential call between heads of government, a summary of which was obtained by German magazine Der Spiegel.
Leaked Call Reveals Deep-Seated Fears
According to the leaked English summary of Monday's call, Macron expressed fundamental doubts about Washington's approach to ending the conflict. The French leader was quoted as stating, "there is a chance that the US will betray Ukraine on territory, without clarity on security guarantees." He described the current tense phase of talks as harbouring a "big danger" for Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who was also a participant on the call.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz echoed these grave concerns, reportedly advising President Zelenskyy to be "very careful." Merz added, "They are playing games with both you and us," a remark Der Spiegel interpreted as a reference to a diplomatic mission to Moscow by Donald Trump's envoy, Steve Witkoff, and Trump's son-in-law, Jared Kushner. The pair held a five-hour meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin at the Kremlin this Tuesday.
European Unity in Defence of Kyiv
The call revealed a unified front of European apprehension. 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, known for his public praise of Trump, reportedly agreed, stating the need to "protect Volodymyr."
Der Spiegel stated it spoke with several participants who confirmed the call took place, with two confirming 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 strain.
The Geopolitical Fallout and European Resolve
The diplomatic flurry follows a 28-point peace proposal presented by Washington last month, drafted without European input and criticised for mirroring Moscow's maximalist demands. In response, German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius warned the Bundestag that an imposed peace would be "disastrous" for both Kyiv and European security.
"A dictated peace would be disastrous for Europe … because a Ukraine which is militarily beaten or potentially even defeated at the negotiating table … would put Europe’s security at risk," Pistorius asserted on Thursday.
Chancellor Merz, writing in the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, argued for using frozen Russian assets to support Ukraine and stressed Europe must act independently. "The question of European independence is being decided today," he wrote. "We are sending a signal of European independence, a signal that we Europeans decide and shape what happens on our continent." He concluded that the decisions made now will determine the future of Europe, underscoring the profound stakes of the current diplomatic manoeuvring.
