Macron reportedly warned European leaders against potential US betrayal on Ukraine

French president Emmanuel Macron, right, welcomes Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy before a meeting at the Elysee Palace in Paris. File picture: Christophe Ena/AP

French president Emmanuel Macron has reportedly warned European leaders that “there is a chance that the US will betray Ukraine on territory without clarity on security guarantees,” German magazine Der Spiegel reported, quoting a leaked note from a recent call between the European leaders.

Spiegel said it had obtained an English note summarising the call, featuring what it claims are direct quotes from some of the participants.

The magazine claimed that Macron talked about the tense moment in the talks to be “a big danger” for Zelenskyy, with German chancellor Friedrich Merz adding that the Ukrainian leader — also on the call — needed to be “very careful.” 

“They are playing games with both you and us,” Merz was reported as saying, which the magazine concluded was a reference to Steve Witkoff’s mission to Moscow.

The magazine said that other leaders also expressed their concerns, with Finland’s Alexander Stubb reportedly saying “we must not leave Ukraine and Volodymyr alone with these guys.” 

Even Nato secretary general, Mark Rutte — who in public is very complimentary of Trump — reportedly said that he agreed with Alexander “that we need to protect Volodymyr.” 

There is an obvious health warning here: there is no easy way of verifying this note’s authenticity, and the Guardian has not been able to immediately confirm the report.

But Der Spiegel said that it spoke with “several” participants of the call, who confirmed it took place, and two of them reportedly said the quotes were “accurately reproduced.” 

A spokesperson for Zelenskyy declined to comment, as did the Merz’s office, while the Élysée Palace contested the quotes attributed to Macron.

— The Guardian