Media: Europe warns Zelenskyy against making concessions to Russia without firm US security guarantees

The Wall Street Journal, citing diplomats, has reported that in recent days European leaders have issued a stern warning to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy: do not make concessions to Russia without solid security guarantees from the United States.

European leaders advised President Zelenskyy to secure guarantees for Kyiv from Washington before accepting any Russian demands, according to two European diplomats familiar with the negotiations.

This message was conveyed during a phone call on Monday 1 December between Zelenskyy and several European leaders, including French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, the diplomats said.

The European leaders stressed that the US must play a primary role in any security guarantees offered to Ukraine as part of a future agreement.

There is growing concern in Kyiv and other European capitals that Washington has not clarified what it would do if Russia were to violate a potential peace agreement and attack Ukraine again.

These warnings, issued in recent days, are yet another example of European leaders attempting to intervene in the peace talks that the US is conducting with the Kremlin and Kyiv largely without involving Europe.