During a confidential call on Monday, European heads of government allegedly warned that the US might be trying to push Ukraine into territorial concessions without firm security guarantees.
German magazine Der Spiegel, which obtained a transcript of the discussion, reports that several EU leaders shared their concerns with President Volodymyr Zelensky, exposing deep mistrust toward Washington, despite public displays of unity.
Macron and Merz caution Zelensky in private call
A transcript of a crisis call, obtained by Der Spiegel, shows that mistrust might run deep among European leaders – including German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and French President Emmanuel Macron. So far, the German magazine hasn’t revealed the source from which it received the transcript.
According to the document, Macron told participants that “there is the possibility that the US could betray Ukraine on the issue of territory, without clarity on security guarantees,” warning that the risk for President Volodymyr Zelensky was “very high.”
Merz reportedly advised Zelensky to act “extremely carefully in the coming days,” adding: “They are playing games, both with you and with us,” in reference to US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner.
The remarks were made during a conference call on Monday involving Zelensky and several European leaders. The transcript indicates widespread concern that Washington could pursue a settlement framework acceptable to Moscow but unfavorable to Kyiv.
Stubb: “We must not leave Ukraine alone with these guys”
Other leaders expressed similar doubts. Finnish President Alexander Stubb reportedly said, “We must not leave Ukraine and Volodymyr alone with these guys,” referring to the Trump-aligned negotiators. NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, who maintains a working relationship with Trump, agreed: “I am with Alexander [Stubb] – we must protect Volodymyr,” the transcript states. Stubb declined to comment to Der Spiegel, while Rutte did not even respond.
Besides Merz, Macron, Stubb and Rutte, Poland’s Donald Tusk, Italy’s Giorgia Meloni, Denmark’s Mette Frederiksen, Norway’s Jonas Gahr Støre, Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and Council President António Costa also took part in the discussions.
According to Der Spiegel, several participants confirmed that the call took place. Two said the transcript reflected the substance of the conversation, but they would not confirm individual quotes because the meeting was confidential.
Zelensky’s spokesperson declined to comment on what was discussed when approached for comment by the German magazine.
Public statements conflict with reported private tone
French officials denied that Macron had warned of a possible US “betrayal” in those words, but declined to clarify his actual phrasing, citing confidentiality. At a joint press conference with Zelensky in Paris that same day, Macron publicly praised US involvement, saying: “There is American mediation taking place – that is a very good thing, it will now put pressure on Russia.”
Berlin also avoided commenting on “circulated fragments.” Speaking at a joint press conference with Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk later on Monday, Merz said with regard to the United States that “we are keeping the transatlantic community together as well as we can.” He went on to stress that “no decision about Ukraine and Europe” should be taken without European and Ukrainian participation, and that there must be “no dictated peace over the heads of Ukrainians.”
Merz further argued that immobilized Russian assets should serve as leverage at the negotiating table emphasizing Europe should act decisively. “Together we want to push through in Brussels the use of the immobilized Russian funds.” According to Der Spiegel, the matter was also discussed during the confidential call, with several participants insisting that decisions on the Russian assets must remain exclusively in EU hands – a point they said must be made clear to Washington.
US envoys pursue talks as Europe seeks a seat at the table
The call followed weekend talks in Florida between Ukrainian national security adviser Rustem Umerov and US representatives, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Witkoff and Kushner. Rubio, who is seen as more critical of Moscow within the Trump administration, later said “there is more work to be done” on a plan to end the war. Zelensky described the talks on X as having a “constructive dynamic,” saying all issues were discussed openly with focus on sovereignty and national interests.
A US delegation consisting of Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner traveled to Moscow on Tuesday, where they were received by Russian President Vladimir Putin and his foreign policy adviser Yuri Ushakov to discuss potential peace terms. After nearly five hours of discussions, Ushakov said that Russia and the US had reached “no compromise,” but still describing the exchange as “constructive, very useful and substantive.”
According to the transcript, European leaders also discussed arranging a meeting with the US envoys on Wednesday. The document indicates Merz proposed asking Trump to send Witkoff to Brussels, while leaders debated whether such a session should involve heads of government and whether it should be held at NATO headquarters or EU facilities. Italy’s Giorgia Meloni reportedly opposed, while Stubb supported the idea, saying: “At the moment we are outside – but we must get inside.”
Witkoff returned to the United States from Moscow on Wednesday without meeting European officials. Kyiv said Umerov and Ukraine’s Chief of General Staff Andriy Hnatov held further discussions in Brussels to prepare for another round of talks with US negotiators in the United States. According to the New York Times, the next meeting is expected to take place Thursday in Miami – again without European representatives.