EU Leaders Warned Zelenskyy of Potential US Shift on Ukraine, Reportedly Fearing a Deal with Russia
BRUSSELS – Top European leaders held a closed-door conference to warn Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy that the United States might be preparing to strike a deal favorable to Russia, according to a transcript published by German publication Der Spiegel. The conversation took place the day before American negotiators Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner traveled to Moscow.
Leaders expressed concerns Washington could betray Ukraine on territorial issues without providing Kyiv with adequate security guarantees. French president Emmanuel Macron stated there was a “real possibility” of such a betrayal. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz cautioned Zelenskyy, “You have to be extremely careful in the coming days. They are playing with you as well as with us.”
Finnish President Alexander Stubb echoed this sentiment, warning against leaving Ukraine “alone with these guys”-referencing Witkoff and Kushner-while NATO Secretary General Mark Rite reportedly agreed with the assessment.
The conference included European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk, italian Prime Minister Giorgio meloni, Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen, Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gaard steere, and european Council President Antonio Costa.
Beyond the potential for a US-Russia deal, leaders also discussed the independent use of frozen Russian assets-amounting to billions of euros-to support Ukraine, seeking to bypass potential American objections.
The reported anxieties reflect a broader fear that Washington, pursuing its own geopolitical interests, might make concessions to Moscow despite ongoing Russian aggression in ukraine. European leaders reportedly believe Russia will exploit any divisions within the Western alliance.
