Macron Cautions Against Weak Ukraine Deal as Trump Highlights His Dealmaking
French President Emmanuel Macron and U.S. President Donald Trump met on Monday in a crucial discussion about the ongoing war in Ukraine, highlighting their differing approaches to securing peace. While Macron emphasized the need for strong security guarantees to prevent Russia from breaking commitments, Trump focused on his negotiation skills and the potential for a deal with Vladimir Putin.
Macron Warns Against a Weak Peace Deal
During a joint press conference, Macron stressed that while both leaders wanted peace, any agreement must be “checked and verified“ to ensure Moscow follows through. Drawing from his own experiences in speaking with Putin, the French president insisted that negotiations should be conducted from a position of strength.
“We want peace. He wants peace. We want peace swiftly, but we don’t want an agreement that is weak.”
“This peace must not mean a surrender of Ukraine.”
Trump Promotes His Dealmaking Skills
In contrast, Trump avoided discussions on security guarantees and instead touted his ability to negotiate. He claimed to be in constant communication with Putin’s representatives and portrayed himself as a skilled mediator.
“That’s what I do. I do deals. My whole life is deals.”
“I know when somebody wants to make a deal and when somebody doesn’t.”
Despite their diplomatic differences, Macron and Trump maintained a cordial tone, with Trump even praising Macron’s leadership in rebuilding Notre-Dame Cathedral after the 2019 fire.
Tension Over European Support for Ukraine
One of the most striking moments of the meeting came when Macron interrupted Trump to correct a statement about European aid to Ukraine.
Trump claimed: “Europe is loaning the money to Ukraine. They’re getting their money back.”
Macron countered: “No, in fact, to be frank, we paid. We paid 60% of the total effort.”
Macron emphasized that Europe had made significant financial contributions to Ukraine, similar to the U.S., through loans, guarantees, and grants.
Trump Open to European Peacekeeping Troops in Ukraine
Despite his reluctance to criticize Putin, Trump expressed openness to the idea of deploying European peacekeeping troops in Ukraine—a proposal expected to be discussed further during his upcoming meeting with UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer.
“It looks like we’re getting very close,” Trump said about a possible resolution.
Macron described Europe as an ‘assurance force’ in Ukraine, with the U.S. acting in solidarity. However, the specifics of any peacekeeping mission remain unclear.
A Virtual G7 Meeting Adds to the Diplomatic Tension
Before their formal talks, Macron and Trump participated in a virtual Group of 7 (G7) meeting, marking the third anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
The meeting took place amid growing concerns over Trump’s resistance to labeling Russia as the aggressor and his push to reinstate Russia into the G7, a move previously opposed by Macron and other European leaders.
After the meeting, Macron called the discussions ‘perfect’, but tensions between the U.S. and its European allies remain evident.
Macron’s Strategy to Persuade Trump on Ukraine
Macron has been working to convince Trump of Ukraine’s importance for global security.
In December, he arranged a surprise meeting between Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Paris.
Macron warned Trump that Putin is not the same leader he knew in office and that a Ukrainian defeat would make the U.S. look weak against China.
However, Trump’s recent statements suggest the meeting had little impact, as he has continued to criticize Zelensky and even suggested that Ukraine was responsible for starting the war.
What’s Next?
Trump will meet UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer on Thursday, where Starmer is expected to present a plan to deploy 30,000 European peacekeeping troops to Ukraine.
The future of U.S. involvement in Ukraine remains uncertain, as Trump’s reluctance to call Putin a dictator signals a shift in American foreign policy.
Macron continues to push for stronger European defense efforts, emphasizing that Europe must take greater responsibility for its security.
With Trump’s negotiations with Russia ongoing and European leaders seeking firm security measures, the future of Ukraine’s war and peace talks remains highly unpredictable.
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