European leaders privately expressed concern that the United States could force Ukraine into territorial concessions in ongoing peace negotiations, according to a leaked summary of a call reported by Germany's Der Spiegel. French President Emmanuel Macron was quoted as warning Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy that "there is a possibility that the U.S. will betray Ukraine on the issue of territory without clarity on security guarantees." The reported exchange surfaced as U.S. envoys intensified talks with Moscow and European allies attempted to gauge Washington's intentions in shaping a settlement to end the war.
Der Spiegel said it obtained an English summary from Monday's call, which included Macron, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte, Finnish President Alexander Stubb, Zelenskyy and other European heads of government. Participants quoted in the document expressed deep misgivings about the direction of U.S.-led peace proposals and whether Kyiv may be pressured into accepting a deal favorable to Moscow's demands. According to the summary, Macron described the moment as "a great danger" for Zelenskyy.
Merz reportedly told the Ukrainian leader he had to be "extremely careful in the coming days," adding, "They are playing games, both with you and with us," a comment interpreted as a reference to the diplomatic mission carried out this week in Moscow by President Donald Trump's envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner. Der Spiegel said several participants confirmed the call occurred and that two participants said the quotes were "accurately reproduced."
Finnish President Stubb was also quoted as saying, "We cannot leave Ukraine and Volodymyr alone with these guys," drawing agreement from Rutte, who said, "I agree with Alexander - we must protect Volodymyr [Zelenskyy]." NATO declined to comment when contacted by media outlets, while the élysée Palace disputed the specific wording attributed to Macron. A French official noted that the presidency's own summary "in which this word [betray] does not figure" reflects Macron's actual position, adding his stance is "no different in private" than in public.
The Ukrainian government refused to comment on the substance of the report. A Ukrainian diplomat speaking anonymously said, "We consider it incorrect to publish any alleged transcripts of the leaders' conversations, which could harm the diplomatic process - we neither confirm nor deny any of the above." The diplomat added: "In general, only the Russians benefit from any splits between Europe and America, so our consistent position is that transatlantic unity must be maintained."
The leak follows weeks of accelerated negotiations driven by a 28-point proposal circulated by the U.S. last month, a plan criticized by European allies as too closely aligned with Moscow's maximalist demands, including territorial concessions, limits on Ukraine's military size and new elections. Subsequent talks involving European, Ukrainian and American officials produced a revised 19-point draft in Geneva, though Russia has not agreed to any of the terms.
Witkoff and Kushner traveled to Moscow on Tuesday for five hours of discussions with President Vladimir Putin and are expected to continue talks with Ukrainian officials in Miami, where Witkoff is slated to meet National Security Council chief Rustem Umerov. The flurry of diplomacy has unfolded as European governments debate whether they may be forced to shoulder a larger share of Ukraine's long-term security burden.
Germany's defense minister, Boris Pistorius, addressed lawmakers Thursday, warning that an imposed settlement would be "disastrous" for both Kyiv and Europe. "A dictated peace would be disastrous for Europe ... because a Ukraine which is militarily beaten or potentially even defeated at the negotiating table (or) destabilised domestically through Russian influence, would put Europe's security at risk," he said.
Merz, writing in the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, argued that the conflict has laid bare Europe's strategic dependence and urged EU governments to seize frozen Russian assets. "The question of European independence is being decided today, when our security interests are under threat. And it will be decided by whether we rise to this challenge," he wrote. He added: "We are sending a signal of European independence, a signal that we Europeans decide and shape what happens on our continent."
