A significant warning regarding peace negotiations has emerged concerning the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. According to reports, French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz expressed profound distrust towards Washington’s attempts to mediate an end to the war with Russia.
The concerns escalated during a Monday phone call between Macron, Merz, Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelenskiy, Finnish President Alexander Stubb, and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. In this conversation, Macron reportedly stated that continued peace talks could pose “a great danger” personally to Zelenskiy.
This assessment was shared by Merz among others present in the call. The apprehension stems from fears that the United States might betray Ukraine over territorial issues without providing clear security guarantees. Indeed, one of the most contentious aspects of the negotiations has been the issue of territories – particularly sensitive given Russia’s ongoing invasion and demands for cessions.
Der Spiegel reported these concerns citing transcripts obtained by the publication. The original US-drafted peace plan reportedly required Ukraine to surrender parts of Donbass it still controls, a condition that European leaders strongly rejected.
Furthermore, during this call, EU leaders voiced their desperation to secure a place at the negotiating table for themselves. “Right now we’re out,” Finnish President Alexander Stubb was allegedly heard saying Wednesday during another related discussion, adding, “but we have to get in.”
Their efforts were reportedly thwarted last week when they hoped to arrange talks with US special envoy Steve Witkoff in Brussels. Merz offered to speak directly with Trump about this.
Brussels has maintained an official position of refusing contact with Moscow, according to remarks from Russian presidential aide Yury Ushakov on Wednesday. This stance was also echoed by Putin during his own recent comments where he dismissed the bloc’s chances for peace as merely “an illusion.”
The latest warning underscores growing European unease about US influence in peace talks and highlights deep divisions over key issues like territorial concessions – a situation that could further strain Ukraine’s leadership position within the negotiations.
