Washington, D.C. – French President Emmanuel Macron arrived at the White House today to present a European-backed peace plan for Ukraine, as concerns mount over Donald Trump’s shifting stance on the war and his recent engagements with Moscow.
During a 90-minute session with Trump, Macron pushed for a clear Western strategy to counter Russian aggression, emphasizing that Ukraine’s sovereignty must be upheld. His proposal, described as a “call to action” against Russian influence, could include European military support in Kyiv to reinforce Ukrainian defences.
Macron’s visit comes ahead of a similar trip by UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, as both European leaders seek to secure military commitments for Ukraine and prevent Trump from rushing into a ceasefire deal with Vladimir Putin.
Over the weekend, Trump hinted that an agreement on Ukraine was imminent, fuelling speculation about what terms he is considering. His administration is reportedly negotiating a revenue-sharing deal with Ukraine to recoup part of the U.S. military aid sent under the Biden administration.
However, Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy rejected U.S. demands for $500 billion in mineral wealth as repayment for war aid, arguing that the actual support received from Washington falls far short of that amount and lacks concrete security guarantees.
Macron, leveraging his previous relationship with Trump, has warned against striking a bad deal with Russia, arguing that any rushed agreement could lead to Ukraine’s capitulation and embolden U.S. adversaries such as China and Iran.
The French leader also participated in a G7 video conference from the Oval Office, underscoring Europe’s push to remain central in shaping Ukraine’s future.
“We had the video conference in the Oval Office with the G7,” Macron said after leaving the White House. He described his meeting with Trump as ‘very good, very friendly’ but remains firm on his stance against any premature agreement with Moscow.
Following the initial discussions, Trump and Macron will hold a joint press conference at 2 p.m. EST, where further details on their negotiations and next steps for Ukraine are expected.
As the Biden-era military strategy faces revaluation under Trump, the future of Western support for Ukraine hangs in the balance, with Europe racing to preserve its influence in the process.
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