French President Emmanuel Macron raised significant concerns among European counterparts this week, warning that a looming U.S. administration under Donald Trump might pressure Kyiv into ceding territory absent robust security guarantees. This cautionary message signals a potential rift between Washington and Europe regarding the eventual resolution of the accelerating conflict in Ukraine.
The disclosure, extracted from a leaked conference call transcript reported by Germany’s Der Spiegel, detailed Macron’s fears that the U.S. could “betray” Ukraine on territorial integrity as part of expedited peace negotiations. The French leader reportedly shared his assessment with key figures, including German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, amidst intensifying efforts by the current Trump administration to broker an agreement between Moscow and Kyiv.
Mounting Transatlantic Tensions Over Peace Framework
This confidential discussion followed reports that the U.S. had advanced a multi-point framework demanding substantial territorial and military concessions from Ukraine, unsettling numerous European capitals. The leak underscores widening differences over the strategy for halting the conflict, which is nearing its fourth year.
The diplomatic flurry included a five-hour meeting in Moscow between Trump’s special envoy, Steve Witkoff, and his son-in-law, Jared Kushner, and Russian President Vladimir Putin. While the Kremlin described the talks as “necessary and useful,” they also noted fundamental elements deemed “unacceptable.”
European leaders participating in the call delivered sharply critical assessments of the U.S. diplomatic maneuvers. Chancellor Merz cautioned Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to exercise caution, alleging that U.S. negotiators were “playing games” with both European interests and Ukraine’s future. Finnish President Alexander Stubb urged allies to remain united, stressing the importance of not leaving Zelensky “alone with these guys,” a sentiment echoed by Rutte.
Other participants included the prime ministers of Poland, Italy, Denmark, and Norway, alongside the presidents of the European Council and the European Commission. The vital discussion occurred just before Witkoff and Kushner met with Russian officials, though a senior White House official confirmed that U.S. envoys were scheduled to reconvene with Ukraine’s chief negotiator, Rustem Umerov, shortly thereafter. President Trump reportedly conveyed that his envoys found the Russian leader ready for a deal.
Europe Pushes Back on Diplomatic Exclusions
Following the Moscow talks, European leaders had hoped to schedule immediate follow-up consultations with the U.S. representatives. Merz reportedly offered to invite Witkoff to Brussels. However, the American envoy returned directly to the U.S., bypassing meetings with European officials—a move underscoring the fragmented approach to mediation.
The leaders also addressed the crucial, contentious issue of utilizing frozen Russian assets. Chancellor Merz insisted that decisions regarding resources immobilized under EU jurisdiction must remain under European competence and could not be ceded to non-European states. Simultaneously, the European Commission proposed a plan to use approximately €90 billion in seized Russian funds to finance Ukraine’s war efforts, a proposal immediately condemned by Moscow.
Debate also ensued over European involvement in future U.S.-led talks. Leaders discussed whether heads of state should attend any meeting with U.S. envoys. While Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni was opposed, President Stubb advocated for participation, arguing Europe must be “in” the process rather than relegated to the sidelines. The urgency surrounding the leaked discussions highlights the imperative for Europe to assert a unified strategy and secure binding security guarantees for Kyiv as the diplomatic endgame approaches.