French President Emmanuel Macron tells Donald Trump to “subord” Ukraine after Russian leader Vladimir Putin said he “want to do business” that could include European peacekeepers. I warned against it.
Trans-Atlantic traversal over war as President Trump and Macron (the first European leader to visit the White House since Trump regained power) opposed assistance and efforts to ensure lasting peace in Ukraine The rift was clear.
The conference was heartwarming, but it came just hours after the US voted against a UN resolution denounced Ukraine and the European Union for invasion.
Trump, who branded Ukraine’s Voldy Mee Zelensky as a “dictator” last week and falsely denounced Ukraine for starting a war, as part of a potential deal to help Putin end the three-year conflict He said he would accept Ukrainian European peacekeeping forces.
Trump added that he did not object to such a move and raised an idea with Putin. “Yeah, he’ll accept that,” the US president said. “I asked him that question.
“Look, if we’re going to make this deal, he’s not looking for more war. He doesn’t care, but I asked him specifically about that question. He’s the problem. there is no.”
Later, at a joint press conference in the East Room, Trump promoted a positive conversation between his team and Russia. “Before I came here, there was no communication with Russia at all, and Russia hadn’t answered the phone. They hadn’t spoken to anyone and people accepted it.
“But when I came here, the first thing I called was to go to President Putin, we were treated with great respect and they want to end this war, so it’s a big deal. That’s what it is.”
He added: “He really believes he wants to trade. I might be wrong, but he wants to trade.”
The US president claimed that he has made more progress in the past month than he has done in the last three years. “I believe Emmanuel agrees with me on many of the issues that matter most,” he said. “Europe must play a central role in ensuring Ukraine’s long-term security.”
Macron admitted that he and Trump have “taken a very substantial step” in their arguments. However, he pointed out Russia as a “attacker” in Ukraine, and was rather cautious.
He told reporters: “This peace should not mean Ukraine’s surrender, it should not mean ceasefire without guarantees. This peace will enable Ukraine’s sovereignty and allow Ukraine to negotiate with other stakeholders. It has to be.”
The French president added: “I think it’s very important to go to peace, but my strength was to get the first thing that can be evaluated, checked and verified… we We want peace quickly, but we don’t want weak agreements.”
Previously, when Trump made false claims about funding the war, the pair clashed directly. He states: They’re getting their money back. ”
Macron leaned in to touch Trump’s arm and intervened. I paid 60% of the total effort. It was like the US: loans, guarantees, grants. ”
Trump replied: “If you believe it, it’s fine for me. They’ll get the money back, and we won’t. But now we’re doing that.”
Trump and his team have negotiated a mineral revenue sharing agreement with Ukraine to reclaim some of the money the previous administration sent to Kiev to repel Russia.
Trump described the mineral trade as “very close” and said he might meet Zelensky to meet him. “He might come to sign the contract this week or next week, but that would be fine,” Trump said.
Zelenskyy last week rejected the US’s demand for $500 million in mineral wealth from Washington for wartime aid.
Asked if Ukraine is willing to transfer territory to Russia as part of the negotiated end of the conflict, Trump said he would “see,” noting that discussions were only just beginning. .
In an interview with Fox News after his visit with Trump, Macron said the ceasefire between Ukraine and Russia will “take over the next few weeks.” He also praised Zelensky’s leadership and said it was important for Trump to meet with the Ukrainian president.
Meanwhile, Putin on Monday showed he was not opposed to European engagement in talks. In a television interview reported by Agence France-Presse, the Russian president said: “Not only Europe (countries) but other countries also have the rights and can participate.”
British Prime Minister Kiel Starmer is visiting Trump later in the week amidst European vigilance over Trump’s strengthened stance on Ukraine and an overture to Moscow on conflict three years ago.
The warning deepened on Monday as the UN Security Council adopted a US draft resolution that took a more reconciliatory position against Russia. Previously, 15 groups were stuck as Russia held its veto.
France, Britain, Denmark, Greece and Slovenia abstained. Russia voted in favor after rejecting a European bid to add a language that supports Ukraine after not modifying it.
The United States voted against a European-backed UN General Assembly resolution condemning Russia’s invasion of Ukraine alongside North Korea, Belarus and other countries alongside Russia than its European allies.
Sheldon White House said he is a Democrat senator who co-led a bipartisan delegation at the recent Munich Security Conference. “This vote is dishonorable. Trump’s pointless betrayal of the alliance that has kept Americans safe since World War II and maintained his loyalty to murderous invaders Putin is a national security issue. It’s a threat.”
