French President Emmanuel Macron made a strong point during a joint news conference with former U.S. President Donald Trump. He emphasized that both leaders want peace in Ukraine but highlighted the importance of ensuring that any agreement would be solid and secure. Macron stressed that Russia has a history of not keeping its promises, which is why security guarantees are essential.
“We want peace swiftly, but we don’t want an agreement that is weak,” Macron stated, insisting that any peace deal should not lead to Ukraine’s surrender.
In contrast, Trump focused on his negotiation skills, mentioning his continuous talks with Putin and portraying himself as a deal-maker. He did not address the need for security guarantees during his remarks.
Macron and Trump have known each other since 2017, and Macron saw this meeting as an opportunity to strengthen European support for Ukraine. Despite moments of collegiality, their differences on the Ukraine conflict were clear. Trump did not seem to shift his views on Europe’s responsibilities or the conflict’s root causes.
Recent UN Security Council resolutions, backed by Russia, did not label it as the aggressor in the conflict, which frustrated European allies. During the press conference, there was a notable moment when Macron had to correct Trump regarding the financial support Europe provides to Ukraine. Macron pointed out that Europe had contributed significantly, covering about 60% of the overall assistance, which contrasted with Trump’s assertion.
Trump did express openness to the idea of a European peacekeeping force in Ukraine, a topic he plans to explore further in talks with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer. Macron described the European role as one of assurance and solidarity, indicating that more cooperation is needed but the specifics of the plan are still unclear.
They also discussed Trump’s potential meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, which could help solidify a deal regarding access to Ukraine’s mineral resources. Trump optimistically mentioned that a resolution to the war could be reached within weeks.
The discussions between Macron and Trump followed a two-hour virtual meeting of the Group of 7, where they celebrated the third anniversary of the Ukraine war. However, tensions were evident ahead of these talks, particularly regarding language in a leaders’ statement about Russian aggression.
Macron hoped for a productive dialogue with Trump to advocate for Ukraine’s security needs. He had previously arranged a meeting with Trump and Zelensky to discuss this topic and had stressed the changing nature of Putin since Trump’s time in office.
As they navigated their discussions, it remained uncertain how much their longstanding relationship would influence the outcomes regarding Ukraine and European security commitments.
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