US President Donald Trump and French President Emmanuel Macron showcased stark differences over Ukraine on Monday, underscoring a growing transatlantic divide over Trump's push for a swift ceasefire deal with Russia.
Despite maintaining a cordial tone during their talks at the White House, Macron made it clear that he did not share Trump’s approach to ending the war, which marked its third anniversary this year.
Trump, who has previously referred to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy as a "dictator," avoided calling Russian President Vladimir Putin the same, a stance that Macron countered with a firm assertion that Russia was the aggressor.
“President Putin violated the peace,” Macron said at a joint press conference with Trump, reinforcing Europe's firm stance on the conflict.
Trump pushes for ceasefire, Macron urges caution
Trump reiterated his desire for an immediate ceasefire and said he was working to broker a deal between Ukraine and Russia. He hinted at a possible visit to Moscow once an agreement was reached.
Macron, however, called for a more measured approach, arguing that any peace deal must include security guarantees and undergo rigorous scrutiny.
“We want peace, he (Trump) wants peace. We want peace swiftly, but we don’t want an agreement that is weak,” Macron told reporters, stressing that any settlement must be “assessed, checked, and verified.”
Despite their differences, the two leaders found common ground on deploying European peacekeeping forces once a peace agreement is reached.
“They would not be along the front lines. They would not be part of any conflict. They would be there to ensure that the peace is respected,” Macron said during their Oval Office discussions.
Trump confirmed that Putin had “no problem” with the idea.
The meeting also touched upon Trump’s ongoing negotiations with Ukraine over mineral wealth, a move aimed at recouping the costs of US military aid provided under the previous Biden administration.
Trump revealed that talks were progressing on a revenue-sharing deal with Kyiv and that Zelenskiy was expected to visit Washington in the coming weeks to finalize the agreement.
The Ukrainian leader, however, recently dismissed US demands for $500 billion worth of mineral wealth as repayment for wartime aid, citing a lack of security guarantees and the fact that the US had not provided that level of support.
Territorial concessions?
When asked whether Ukraine might have to cede territory to Russia as part of a peace settlement, Trump responded, “Well, we’re going to see.”
Macron, in contrast, emphasized that Ukraine’s sovereignty must be preserved in any deal.
Europe on Edge Over Trump's Ukraine Policy
Macron’s visit marks the first by a European leader since Trump’s return to power a month ago. The French president has sought to leverage his past relationship with Trump to navigate the unpredictable dynamics of US foreign policy.
His visit comes amid growing concerns in Europe over Trump’s shifting stance on Ukraine and his outreach to Moscow. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer is also set to meet Trump later this week, as European leaders attempt to assess the direction of US policy on the war.
