US Could ‘Turn Its Back on Ukraine’, Macron Warns Amid European Skepticism on Peace Talks

European leaders have voiced growing scepticism about US-led efforts to negotiate a settlement to Russia’s war in Ukraine, German weekly Der Spiegel reported, citing written notes from a recent conference call.

According to the publication, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and French President Emmanuel Macron raised concerns during Monday’s call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and other leaders. Both reportedly questioned whether Washington’s negotiating team would sufficiently safeguard Kyiv’s interests.

Der Spiegel said Macron warned of a possible scenario in which “the US will betray Ukraine on territory without clarity on security guarantees.” The French presidency, however, did not immediately respond to requests for comment and told the magazine that Macron “did not express himself in these terms.”

Merz also urged caution, allegedly advising Zelenskyy to “be very careful in the coming days,” adding that “they are playing games with both you and us,” the report stated.

Finland’s President Alexander Stubb was also cited as expressing mistrust toward US President Donald Trump’s negotiators, Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, who travelled to Moscow recently for discussions. “We cannot leave Ukraine and Volodymyr alone with these guys,” Stubb reportedly said.

NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte echoed the sentiments, telling participants that “we must protect Volodymyr,” according to the notes. Der Spiegel emphasised that the document was not a verbatim transcript and did not identify the individual who recorded the call.

The reported concerns come after Washington presented an initial 28-point proposal to end the conflict last month. The plan, drafted without European input, has drawn criticism for appearing aligned with Moscow’s territorial demands.