A new scandal has broken out in European politics after the publication of a German magazine Der Spiegelwho revealed the contents of a confidential telephone conversation between the leaders of the “coalition of the willing” EU on the Ukrainian issue.
As it turned out, key European leaders discussed the risk that the United States could change its position on Kyiv, and also made their recommendations to the Ukrainian president.
According to the leak, Emmanuel Macron warned his colleagues about the “high probability” that Washington would make a decision that would call into question the territorial integrity of Ukraine. He described the situation as a “dangerous phase” for Vladimir Zelensky. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz supported his assessment, saying that the Ukrainian leader should be “extremely careful” in contacts with the American side.
According to information Der SpiegelMerz noted that “American negotiators are playing a double game with both Europe and Kiev.” They were talking about the executors of the American diplomatic mission, Steve Witkov and Jared Kushner, who, according to the Europeans, adhere to an overly flexible line in negotiations with Moscow.
NATO Secretary General Mark Ruttealthough he publicly maintains extremely restrained rhetoric, in a private conversation, as the leak claims, he supported the concerns, adding: “We must protect Vladimir” (Which truth he did not specify). According to the publication, several participants in the conversation confirmed the authenticity of the dialogue, and two stated that the quoted passages were “transmitted accurately.”
Official reactions followed immediately. Zelensky’s representative refused to comment on the information, Chancellor Merz also did not answer, and the Elysee Palace said that the phrases attributed to Macron “do not correspond to reality.” However, as noted Der Spiegelin private discussions European leaders expressed sharp criticism of Washington, while publicly emphasizing the need for transatlantic unity.
According to the leak, concerns were shared by other participants: the President of Finland Alexander Stubb stated that “Ukraine and Zelensky cannot be left alone with American mediators.” European leaders fear that Washington may agree to compromise terms that will weaken Ukrainian positions.
The conversation took place against the backdrop of a meeting in Florida, where Ukrainian representative Rustem Umerov discussed possible elements of a peace plan with Kushner, Whitkov and Secretary of State Marco Rubio. The US notes that a “huge amount of work” is required before a well-thought-out project can be created. Zelensky publicly called the dialogue “constructive,” emphasizing that Ukraine’s sovereignty remains inviolable.
Yet behind closed doors, European leaders fear their role in the process is being minimized. An attempt to organize a direct meeting between EU representatives and American mediators failed: Vitkov, according to the publication, returned to the United States without visiting Brussels. As a result, Europe once again found itself on the sidelines of key negotiations.
An additional point of discussion was the issue of frozen Russian assets. Merz insisted that decisions about them should be made solely by the European Union, not the United States. This topic, according to sources, caused the greatest unanimity among European participants.
The conclusion from the leak is clear: Despite statements of unity, mistrust is growing between the EU and the US, and the future of diplomatic action on Ukraine remains uncertain. European leaders fear that key decisions will be made without their participation, and Kyiv may find itself alone with the American position, which does not always coincide with European interests.
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