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European leaders criticised Washington’s approach to peace talks in leaked transcript of call
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Emmanuel Macron warned that Donald Trump could “betray Ukraine” by offering territory to Russia without security guarantees, according to a leaked transcript of a call between fellow European leaders.
The French president told Kyiv’s allies that Washington could attempt to force Ukraine to give up territory “without clarity on security guarantees”, German newspaper Der Spiegel reported.
Details of the call – which involved Macron along with German chancellor Friedrich Merz and Nato secretary-general Mark Rutte – were published by the German newspaper on Thursday.
Macron’s remarks lay bare the rift that remains between Europe and Washington on how to end the near four-year-old conflict. A previous US-drafted peace plan caused consternation in Europe as it appeared to accept Russia’s demands for territory and a significant reduction in the size of the Ukrainian army.
Trump has insisted that Putin is serious about seeking peace in Ukraine, but Kyiv has accused Russia of feigning interest. Ukrainian officials will meet with Witkoff in Miami on Thursday.
Senior Ukrainian and European officials have accused Russia of not pursuing “any kind of peace” and wasting the world’s time.
Foreign secretary Yvette Cooper said the Russian president Vladimir Putin “should end the bluster and the bloodshed and be ready to come to the table and to support a just and lasting peace”.
Ukrainian foreign minister Andrii Sybiha called on the Russian leader to “stop wasting the world’s time”.
“Russia must end the bloodshed it has started. If this doesn’t happen and Putin just spits into the world’s face once again, there must be consequences. Russia must stop wasting the world’s time, which must be the time for peace,” he said.
Estonian foreign minister Margus Tsahkna said Putin “has not changed course”, adding: “It’s pretty obvious that he doesn’t want to have any kind of peace.”
French president Emmanuel Macron warned European leaders that the US may “betray” Ukraine during peace negotiations, according to a bombshell report revealing an alleged transcript of the multi-party call.
“There is a possibility that the US will betray Ukraine on the issue of territory without clarity on security guarantees,” Macron said according to Der Spiegel, adding that there was “great danger”.
German chancellor Friedrich Merz said Volodymyr Zelensky had to be “extremely careful” in the coming days. In comments likely referring to Trump envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, he said: “They are playing games, both with you and with us.”
Finnish president Alexander Stubb, who enjoys warm relations with Trump, said: We mustn’t leave Ukraine and Volodymyr alone with these guys.” Nato secretary general Mark Rutte concurred, reportedly saying: “I agree with Alexander, we must protect Volodymyr.”
Mr Merz also discussed the issue of frozen Russian assets, warning that the US must be clear that the issue was Europe’s to deal with alone.
Europe could not “leave the decision to other, non-European states regarding what happens to the financial resources of an aggressor that have been legally frozen within the jurisdiction of our rule of law and in our own currency”, he said.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has declared that Moscow intends to seize full control of Ukraine’s Donbas region through military force, unless Ukrainian troops withdraw – a demand Kyiv has unequivocally rejected.
The declaration, made in an interview published on Thursday in India Today, follows Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, which escalated an eight-year conflict between Russian-backed separatists and Ukrainian forces across the Donbas, comprising the Donetsk and Luhansk regions.
Speaking ahead of a planned visit to New Delhi, Mr Putin stated: “Either we liberate these territories by force of arms, or Ukrainian troops leave these territories,” according to footage broadcast on Russian state television.
Ukraine has consistently maintained it will not cede territory that Moscow has failed to secure militarily. President Volodymyr Zelensky has previously asserted that Russia should not be rewarded for initiating the conflict.
French president Emmanuel Macron has called on China to back a moratorium on strikes against Ukraine’s critical infrastructure through winter.
Mr Macron, who was speaking at a press conference with Chinese leader Xi Jinping, said it is vital to do everything possible to find compromises and adhere to international law, according to Ukrainska Pravda.
“I hope that China will join our call and our efforts to reach at least a ceasefire in the form of a moratorium on strikes on critical infrastructure as soon as possible,” he said.
It is crucial for the coming winter, with energy facilities still under Russian attack.
Ukrainian units continue to hold the northern part of the city of Pokrovsk, the commander-in-chief of Ukraine’s Armed Forces has said.
An “extremely difficult stage” in the defence of the Pokrovsk-Myrnohrad urban area is ongoing, Oleksandr Syryskyi said, adding that Kyiv’s troops are still holding designated areas inside the two cities
“In the area of Pokrovsk and Myrnohrad we are using active operations to block the enemy’s attempts to build up assault infantry groups and to advance around these settlements,” Mr Syrskyi said according to Ukrainska Pravda.
“Within the cities, our soldiers are continuing to hold the areas assigned to them.
“While the occupiers show no regard for their manpower losses, Ukrainian commanders have a clear understanding of how important it is to preserve the lives and health of their personnel.”
Ukraine’s military denied on Thursday that Russian troops were in control of the southern village of Dobropillia, which is located near a part of the frontline where Moscow’s forces have recently advanced.
“An enemy sabotage and reconnaissance group infiltrated the outskirts of the village, taking advantage of the weather conditions,” Ukraine’s General Staff said on Telegram, adding that the village currently is under the control of Kyiv’s troops.
Russia has said that any “illegal action” by the European Union in relation to its frozen assets would elicit “the harshest reaction”.
Under the proposal, around £123 billion of Russian state assets held in Belgium would be transformed into a “reparations loan”.
Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova told reporters: “Any illegal actions involving our assets will not go unanswered… Preparations for a package of countermeasures in the event of actual theft and seizure of Russian Federation assets are already under way.”
Intended to terrorise, destabilise, and punish those resisting occupation, sexual violence has long been used as a weapon of war.
However, Ukraine’s powerful survivor-led response could redefine global justice, writes Jack Straw:
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