Trump and Macron Seek Peace in Ukraine Amid Controversial Remarks
In a significant diplomatic move, President Donald Trump stated on Monday that Russian President Vladimir Putin would likely accept the presence of European peacekeepers in Ukraine as part of a potential agreement to end the ongoing three-year war. This assertion was made during a joint press conference with French President Emmanuel Macron at the White House, where leaders aimed to mend a transatlantic split in pursuit of peace in the conflict-ridden region.
The meeting, however, was overshadowed by the U.S. voting against a United Nations resolution condemning Russia's military invasion of Ukraine, aligning itself with nations like North Korea, Belarus, and Sudan rather than its European allies. This decision sparked outrage among Democrats, who labeled the actions a disgrace.
Macron expressed Europe's readiness to provide security guarantees for Ukraine in the event of a ceasefire, which could include deploying peacekeepers, although they would not be stationed at the front lines. Trump endorsed the idea, revealing that he had previously discussed it with Putin, asserting, "He doesn't mind" sending troops to Ukraine as peacemakers.
Notably, Trump's rhetoric regarding Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy took a controversial turn last week when he referred to him as a dictator and incorrectly accused Ukraine of instigating the war, suggesting a serious divergence from European perspectives on the situation. Trump emphasized the need to "end this bloodletting and restore peace," claiming to have achieved more progress within the last month than had been made in the prior three years.
During the Oval Office discussions, Trump suggested that Europe should play a pivotal role in ensuring Ukraine's long-term security, a sentiment echoed by Macron, who acknowledged the substantive progress in their dialogues.
In parallel to diplomatic efforts, Trump revealed that negotiations are underway for a mineral revenue-sharing agreement with Ukraine, which aims to recover some funds previously allocated to Kyiv for resisting Russian aggression. He indicated that a meeting with Zelenskyy could occur shortly to finalize the agreement.
However, Zelenskyy's administration rejected U.S. demands for 500 billion dollars in mineral wealth intended to repay wartime aid, asserting that the U.S. had not provided nearly that amount and had not offered specific security guarantees as part of the suggested agreement.
When questioned about whether Ukraine might concede territory to Russia for a peaceful resolution, Trump replied, "We'll see," noting that discussions are still in the early phases.
Macron made history as the first European leader to visit Trump since his return to power. Their meeting included an hour-and-45-minute session and a video conference with other G7 leaders regarding Ukraine. While both leaders displayed camaraderie, a notable clash arose when Trump made inaccurate claims regarding the financial aid for the war. He insisted that Europe was loaning funds to Ukraine, to which Macron quickly corrected him, saying that Europe had contributed 60% of the total effort.
The conversation around the Ukraine crisis continues to evolve, with Macron stressing the importance of a credible peace deal—one that is strong and verifiable, maintaining that any agreement must not be weak or easily undermined.
As diplomatic maneuvers unfold, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer is scheduled to meet with Trump later this week, which comes at a time of increasing concern in Europe regarding Trump's firm stance on Ukraine and his overtures to Moscow in this long-standing conflict.
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