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A confidential phone call among top European leaders has exposed deep-seated mistrust towards the U.S.-led peace negotiations for Ukraine, with French President Emmanuel Macron reportedly warning of a potential American "betrayal." The details, first published by German magazine Der Spiegel, stem from a leaked transcript of a conversation between Macron, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, and other European officials.
According to the transcript, Macron expressed that "there is a possibility that the U.S. will betray Ukraine on the issue of territory without clarity on security guarantees," calling it "a great danger" for Zelenskyy. An Elysée Palace official later stressed that Macron's office released its own summary where the word "betray" did not appear, though several participants confirmed the call took place. The concerns were echoed by other leaders on the call. Merz reportedly advised Zelenskyy to be "very careful," stating, "They are playing games, both with you and with us," in an apparent reference to U.S. envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner. Finnish President Alexander Stubb was also quoted as saying, "We must not leave Ukraine and Volodymyr alone with these guys," a sentiment reportedly shared by NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte.
The call occurred just before Witkoff and Kushner held a five-hour meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow. Those discussions in Moscow failed to produce a breakthrough, with the Kremlin confirming that while some U.S. proposals were acceptable, Russia’s maximalist demands on territory remain unchanged. The talks were based on a revised 19-point plan, updated from an initial 28-point draft that had been criticized in Europe as being too favorable to Russia.
Following the leak, official statements sought to downplay the reported friction, emphasizing ongoing transatlantic cooperation. However, the private remarks highlight a significant rift and a concerted European effort to shield Ukraine from being pressured into a disadvantageous peace deal. During the confidential call among European leaders, there was also extensive discussion about using frozen Russian assets to fund Ukraine, with leaders insisting that this decision must remain exclusively with the EU, independent of U.S. influence. The episode underscores the fragile unity among Western allies as they navigate a complex diplomatic path to end the war.
