59 minutes ago
Last Updated:December 04, 2025, 20:19 IST
Macron reportedly voiced concerns during the call on Monday with Zelenskyy and other leaders, questioning whether US negotiators would adequately protect Kyiv’s interests.
French President Emmanuel Macron, US President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at the White House. (AFP file photo)
European leaders have expressed scepticism over US-led efforts to negotiate an end to Russia’s war in Ukraine, according to German news weekly Der Spiegel, which said it had obtained written notes from a conference call this week.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and French President Emmanuel Macron reportedly voiced concerns during the call on Monday with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and other leaders, questioning whether US negotiators would adequately protect Kyiv’s interests.
Der Spiegel quoted Macron as saying there was a risk that “the US will betray Ukraine on territory without clarity on security guarantees".
The French government, however, did not immediately respond to requests for comment, and the publication noted that the presidency stated Macron “did not express himself in these terms".
Merz allegedly cautioned Zelenskyy to “be very careful in the coming days", adding that “they are playing games with both you and us".
According to the report, Finland’s President Alexander Stubb also expressed distrust of US President Donald Trump’s envoy Steve Witkoff and son-in-law Jared Kushner, who recently travelled to Moscow for talks.
Stubb reportedly said, “We cannot leave Ukraine and Volodymyr alone with these guys."
NATO chief Mark Rutte agreed, stating that “we must protect Volodymyr", the report said.
Der Spiegel stressed that the notes were not a verbatim transcript and did not identify the note-taker.
Last month, Washington put forward an initial 28-point plan to end the war in Ukraine. The proposal was drafted without input from European allies and faced criticism for aligning too closely with Moscow’s maximalist demands regarding Ukrainian territory.
(With inputs from AFP)
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First Published:
December 04, 2025, 20:19 IST
News world Macron Warns US Could 'Betray Ukraine' As European Leaders Voice Distrust In Peace Talks
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