between Washington and Moscow.
A long-time adversary, rather than Europe and Ukraine, its traditional allies against Russian aggression.
In a possible future, the United States may not be a dependable ally for Europe in its dealings with Russia.
Significant progress has been made,” Trump stated in the Oval Office prior to his meeting with Macron. “We’ve had productive discussions with Russia. We’ve also had positive conversations with other nations, and we’re working to bring an end to the conflict between Russia and Ukraine. I believe we’ve made considerable strides in a short amount of time, just a few weeks.
Macron has previously tried to establish a positive relationship with Trump by sheer force of will, stating that they were aligned, even if they didn’t start out that way. On Monday, it seemed he would try the same approach.
Before meeting, the two leaders exchanged cordial comments with the press, however, Trump provided little hint that he would diverge from the path he has been on since speaking with Russian President Vladimir Putin a few weeks ago.
“The United States and France have consistently found themselves on the correct side of history, if I may say so, and it’s precisely this commitment to upholding what’s right that’s being tested today,” Macron stated in the Oval Office.
The democratically elected Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky recently refused to describe Putin’s rule, citing the significant length of time, 25 years, during which the Russian leader has maintained control in a firm manner.
On Monday, President Macron indicated a willingness to send European peacekeepers to Ukraine as part of a plan to secure a peace agreement, a move that would be part of a larger effort to transfer more of the responsibility for supporting Ukraine to European countries.
The Kremlin has consistently stated in recent days that it strongly objects to NATO troops being stationed in Ukraine, but Trump claimed that Putin told him that he would be willing to accept them.
It seems Trump accepted Putin’s claim that Russia would agree to a long-term ceasefire in Ukraine as part of any peace agreement. However, many European leaders are skeptical of this claim, believing that a poorly negotiated deal could allow Russia to rearm and potentially launch another invasion of Ukraine in the future.
I’m confident that there will be little need for security forces within Ukraine.” “I believe this won’t be an issue. Once a deal is finalized, Russia will focus on its own affairs, and Ukraine and Europe will resume their normal activities. I don’t foresee any problems.
Before his visit, Macron claimed he would be able to persuade Trump that teaming up with Putin was not in Trump’s own best interest.
I’m familiar with him and I have a positive view of him, and I believe he has a similar opinion of me,” Macron said during a live social media Q&A last week. “I plan to tell him that it’s not acceptable to show weakness when dealing with President Putin. This isn’t what you’re known for and it’s not in your best interest. If you can’t stand up to Putin, how can you expect to be taken seriously when dealing with China?
Macron stated that Trump’s return to the White House has brought about “uncertainty” that has caused concern among the US’s allies, but this uncertainty could also potentially be beneficial in negotiations to end the conflict by making it difficult for Putin to predict Trump’s actions. “The fact that Trump creates uncertainty for others is a good thing because he wants to make deals,” Macron said. He also mentioned that he plans to try to convince Trump that their interests align.
Macron stated that he thinks “we are entering a new era” in which European countries will need to strengthen their military capabilities.
President Trump’s change in policy towards Russia has raised concerns about the US stance on Ukraine, particularly after his recent criticism of Zelensky, which has increased uncertainty about future US support for Kyiv. This has not only caused unease in Ukraine, but also in Europe, where there’s a growing feeling among leaders that the US is rapidly shifting alliances. This has reinforced the idea, long promoted by Macron, that European countries need to take more control of their own security.
A crisis alliance was formed, bringing together leaders from the continent to discuss and coordinate a unified response to strengthen Ukraine’s position and fortify European defenses as they reassess their ties with the United States.
Before his trip to Washington, Macron spoke with European leaders over the phone, including British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who is scheduled to meet with Trump later this week. Macron reaffirmed his commitment to securing a solid peace agreement for Ukraine and emphasized the importance of strengthening European security through all future negotiations.
Before Macron’s trip to Washington, a French official close to the planning process noted that Macron will leverage his “unique relationship” with Trump, which the two had established during their initial time in office.
The official stated that Macron is moving forward with proposals that align with the common ground established through his recent meetings with other European leaders, and that he has their support for his upcoming visit to Washington.
Assistance could be provided to Ukraine in the event of a cease-fire agreement.
The proposal outlines a European force of fewer than 30,000 soldiers that would not be deployed on the front lines, but would be able to safeguard key locations and prevent Russia from escalating the conflict further. This force would also be supported by additional troops stationed outside of Ukraine. The plan, still in development, would utilize U.S. military resources, such as intelligence and air defense capabilities.
Starmer said that a “U.S. guarantee” to ensure security would be required.
The Trump administration has stated that they will not send U.S. forces to Ukraine, but European officials have not eliminated the possibility of supporting a European military force in the region.
European leaders had still not finalized a clear plan for a potential several-month deployment to Ukraine.
European plans gained more importance this month as initial US-Russia negotiations started, despite ongoing disagreements among allies on the issue of sending troops to Ukraine as part of any future agreement.
