‘No mistrust’ between Europe and US over Ukraine, Macron says after leak

Emmanuel Macron has said there is “no mistrust” between Europe and the US, a day after a report claimed the French president had warned privately there was a risk Washington could betray Ukraine.

- Oliver Holmes

“Unity between Americans and Europeans on the Ukrainian issue is essential. And I say it again and again, we need to work together,’ Macron told reporters during a visit to China. “We welcome and support the peace efforts being made by the United States of America. The United States of America needs Europeans to lead these peace efforts.”

The German magazine Der Spiegel on Thursday cited a leaked summary of a confidential call between several European leaders in which Macron and the German chancellor, Friedrich Merz, voiced fundamental doubts about US efforts to negotiate between Ukraine and Russia.

‘The transcript quoted Macron as warning Ukraine’s president, VolodymyrZelenskyy: “There is a chance that the US will betray Ukraine on territory, without clarity on security guarantees.”

‘The alleged leak risked angering Donald Trump, whom European leaders have been at pains to flatter, knowing he is the key player in any mediation efforts with Moscow.