French President Emmanuel Macron has privately warned European allies that Donald Trump could "betray Ukraine" by pushing a peace deal that forces Kyiv to surrender territory to Russia without adequate security guarantees, according to a leaked transcript.
Transatlantic Rift Over Peace Plans
The explosive remarks were made during a confidential call between Macron, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, and NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte. Details of the conversation were published by the German newspaper Der Spiegel on Thursday, 4 December 2025.
Macron reportedly told Kyiv's allies that Washington could attempt to force Ukraine to give up land "without clarity on security guarantees." His comments lay bare the deepening strategic divide between European capitals and Washington on how to end the nearly four-year-old conflict.
This follows consternation in Europe over a previous US-drafted peace plan, which appeared to accept core Russian demands, including territorial concessions and a significant reduction in the size of the Ukrainian army.
Kremlin Downplays Progress as Putin Travels
The Kremlin stated on Friday, 5 December, that "we are no closer to peace in Ukraine" following recent US talks. This comes as Russian President Vladimir Putin arrived in New Delhi for his first visit to India in four years.
Putin is set to hold summit talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, aiming to bolster trade with a key buyer of Russian arms and oil. Ahead of the visit, Putin doubled down on his threat to seize Ukraine's Donbas region by force, telling India Today: "Either we liberate these territories by force of arms, or Ukrainian troops leave these territories."
Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky faced a security scare during a state visit to Ireland. An Irish navy ship spotted up to five drones operating near his aircraft's flight path into Dublin on Monday, triggering a major security alert.
NATO Commander Warns of Rising Hybrid Threats
Amid the geopolitical tensions, NATO's top military commander has issued a stark warning about increasing hybrid threats against the alliance. US Air Force General Alexus Grynkewich, NATO's Supreme Allied Commander Europe, said the alliance must be ready to respond to a mix of military and non-military tactics.
"Hybrid threats are a real issue, and I do think that we can anticipate more of that happening," Grynkewich told reporters at NATO's military headquarters in Mons, Belgium. He cited cyberattacks, disinformation, sabotage, and the use of drones as key threats, noting that the alliance knew Russia was behind some recent incidents.
In a related development, French President Macron, during a press conference with Chinese leader Xi Jinping, proposed a moratorium on strikes against Ukraine's critical energy infrastructure through the winter, urging China to back the call.
Frontline Updates and Diplomatic Moves
On the battlefield, the situation remains tense. Ukrainian Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi reported an "extremely difficult stage" in the defence of the Pokrovsk-Myrnohrad area, but confirmed Ukrainian troops continue to hold the northern part of Pokrovsk.
Kyiv's military also denied Russian claims of controlling the southern village of Dobropillia, stating an enemy reconnaissance group had only infiltrated the outskirts.
In diplomatic circles, Turkey's energy minister, Alparslan Bayraktar, called on all parties to keep energy infrastructure out of the conflict, following a series of attacks off Turkey's Black Sea coast.
The leaked call, security incidents, and military warnings underscore a volatile period where diplomatic manoeuvres and battlefield realities remain tightly interwoven, with Western unity under strain.
