As reported by SPIEGEL, during his conversation, Macron indicated that there is a risk that the US may not provide clear security guarantees to Ukraine, which could lead to a loss of territory. “There is a possibility that the US will betray Ukraine,” he noted, referring to the transcript of the phone call.
Merz also commented on this, urging Zelensky to be “very cautious in the coming days.” He emphasized that “they (the US) are playing games both with you and with us,” referring to American negotiators Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner.
These statements highlight the caution of European leaders regarding Trump’s two trusted aides. Despite public praise for Washington, the participants in the negotiations, including Merz and Macron, express dissatisfaction with the actions of the American representatives.
Alexander Stubb, the President of Finland and one of the few European leaders maintaining good relations with Trump, also warned about the potential risks associated with these negotiations. “We cannot leave Ukraine and Vladimir alone with these guys,” he remarked during the discussion.
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, who also has good relations with Trump, supported Stubb's opinion, stating: “I agree with Alexander, we must protect Vladimir.”
The conference call, which took place on Monday, brought together several European leaders, including Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen, Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, and European Council President Antonio Costa.
Several participants confirmed to SPIEGEL that the conversation took place but declined to comment on individual quotes, citing its confidential nature. Zelensky's press secretary also refrained from commenting on the content of the conversation.
In France, on the contrary, Macron's words about a possible betrayal by the Americans were denied. “The President did not express himself in such terms,” stated the Élysée Palace. However, they did not clarify how exactly Macron formulated his thoughts, citing the confidentiality of the discussions.
Instead, they pointed to a press conference with Zelensky, where Macron emphasized only the positive aspects of the American role. The German Chancellor's office also declined to comment on “widely circulated fragments of the conversation,” while Merz made public comments regarding the phone call, focusing on the need to freeze Russian assets and the importance of transatlantic cooperation.
The issue of frozen assets was also discussed in the confidential conversation, with participants emphasizing that the US must understand that the decision on this matter belongs exclusively to the EU.
Merz emphasized in an article for FAZ that Europe cannot allow non-European states to determine the fate of the frozen finances of the aggressor, which are within the framework of the European legal system.
During the discussion on Monday, Merz, Macron, and other leaders seemed to hope to organize a meeting with Witkoff and Kushner. Merz suggested that Trump send Witkoff to Brussels.
Among the issues discussed was also the possibility of the heads of state participating in this meeting and the venue — NATO headquarters or EU premises. Meloni opposed this, while Stubb supported the idea.
