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Leak Exposes European Alarm Over U.S. Back-Channel Ukraine Talks

A Spiegel transcript indicates fears that secret negotiations could trade territory without firm security guarantees for Kyiv.

Overview

  • Der Spiegel published excerpts from a Monday call in which Emmanuel Macron warned the United States might betray Ukraine on territorial questions without clarity on guarantees.
  • German Chancellor Friedrich Merz was quoted cautioning that Volodymyr Zelensky should be extremely careful and alleging the U.S. envoys are playing games.
  • The Kremlin said talks in Moscow with U.S. envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner produced no results, even as Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin publicly described recent interactions as positive.
  • European hopes to meet the envoys this week fell through, underscoring anxiety in EU and NATO circles about being sidelined in the process.
  • Participants in the call did not confirm the transcript’s contents, and Ukraine’s stance continues to center on durable security assurances and preserving territorial integrity.