French President Emmanuel Macron has issued a stark warning to fellow European leaders that Donald Trump could 'betray Ukraine' by pressuring Kyiv into surrendering territory to Russia without solid security guarantees. The alarming claim comes from a leaked transcript of a high-level call, reported by Der Spiegel, which exposes a deepening transatlantic rift over ending the nearly four-year conflict.
Leaked Call Reveals European Fears
The confidential discussion, which took place on Monday, included German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte. According to the purported transcript, Macron told allies that Washington might attempt to force a partition of Ukraine to appease Russian President Vladimir Putin. He described the current tense moment in negotiations as 'a big danger' for Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, who was also on the call.
Chancellor Merz reportedly advised Zelensky to be 'very careful', bluntly stating: 'They are playing games with both you and us.' This comment was widely interpreted as a pointed reference to the recent Moscow trip by Trump's envoys, Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, which has sparked fears of opaque back-channel dealings over Ukraine's future.
A Unified European Front Emerges
The leaked conversation revealed a strong consensus among European leaders on the need to shield Ukraine from potential unilateral US actions. Finland's President Alexander Stubb urged that 'we must not leave Ukraine and Volodymyr alone with these guys'. Even NATO's Mark Rutte concurred, agreeing that they must 'protect' President Zelensky.
While Der Spiegel notes the transcript cannot be independently verified, two participants allegedly confirmed the quotes were accurate. The tensions laid bare in the call were dramatically underscored within 24 hours when a planned meeting between Zelensky and Trump's envoys in Brussels was abruptly cancelled. A Kyiv Post correspondent reported that Zelensky returned to Ukraine instead, with neither side explaining the sudden change.
Trump's Peace Plan Hits Stumbling Blocks
This diplomatic turbulence comes as Donald Trump's own peace initiative, a 28-point plan modelled on his Gaza deal, runs into significant trouble. A revised 19-point proposal was rejected by Zelensky because, despite stripping back some concessions to Moscow, it left critical issues unresolved. The plan demanded:
- Kyiv's withdrawal from parts of the Donetsk region it currently controls.
- Vague security guarantees lacking enforcement specifics.
- A 25 per cent reduction in Ukraine's military capacity.
Meanwhile, the Kremlin praised Trump's peace efforts on Wednesday while admitting differences remained. Spokesman Dmitry Peskov called the envoy's talks with Putin a 'normal process' and said Russia had clarified which terms it found 'unacceptable'. This statement followed a chilling warning from Putin himself, who declared Russia 'ready' for a conflict in Europe so ferocious there would be 'nobody left to negotiate peace with'.
The leaked call and subsequent diplomatic disruptions highlight the profound uncertainty and high-stakes manoeuvring now defining the push to end the war, with European allies increasingly wary of Washington's strategy.
