In a leaked recording, Emmanuel Macron reportedly warned Volodymyr Zelenskyy that the US might pressure Ukraine into territorial concessions without offering clear security guarantees. According to Der Spiegel, a leaked summary of a call among European leaders showed deep doubts about Washington’s handling of the negotiations.
Macron described the current stage of talks as dangerous for Ukraine, while Germany’s Friedrich Merz cautioned Zelenskyy to be very careful. Merz also suggested that US envoys were “playing games” with both Europe and Ukraine, referring to Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner’s recent trip to Moscow during which the two billionaire property developers from New York sat down with Putin for five hours. Other leaders, including Finland’s Alexander Stubb and Nato chief Mark Rutte, also stressed the need to shield Ukraine from potential pressure.
Participants in the call confirmed it occurred and said the quotes were accurately represented, though Macron’s office disputed them. The tensions come as the US has advanced a 28-point peace proposal criticised for mirroring Russian demands and as US envoys hold talks with both Moscow and Kyiv. Amid these developments, European leaders such as Boris Pistorius and Friedrich Merz urged Europe to strengthen its own support for Ukraine and assert greater strategic independence.
PHOTO: Alexander Kazakov