French President Emmanuel Macron has expressed his intention to advise U.S. counterpart Donald Trump that it is in the mutual interest of Americans and Europeans not to “be weak” in the face of Russian leader Vladimir Putin, particularly during U.S.-led negotiations to resolve the nearly three-year conflict in Ukraine.
The White House has confirmed that Macron will meet with Trump on Monday.
During a one-hour Q&A session on social media Thursday, Macron said he would tell Trump: “‘You can’t be weak in the face of President Putin. It’s not you, it’s not your trademark, it’s not in your interest. How can you then be credible in the face of China if you’re weak in the face of Putin?'”
Trump’s recent statements echoing Putin’s narrative and plans to have direct negotiations with Moscow have left European allies and Ukrainian officials worried. However, Macron suggested that Trump’s strategy to create “uncertainty” in talks with Russia could actually strengthen Western allies.
Putin “doesn’t know what he (Trump) is going to do, he thinks (Trump) is capable of anything,” Macron said. “This uncertainty is good for us and for Ukraine.”
In his commitment to address the escalating tensions, Macron has asserted he would attempt to convince Trump that American and European interests align, saying, “If you let Russia take over Ukraine, it would be unstoppable.”
He emphasized the importance of having both Ukrainians and Europeans at the table for any potential peace deal negotiations: “We want peace. But we don’t want a ceasefire that means Ukraine surrendering because that’s dangerous. And we know that would lead to Russia going further. We’ve already experienced it.”
Moreover, Macron is willing to respond to Trump’s request for increased defense spending, stating, “Us, Europeans, we must increase our war effort.”
On the question of deploying French troops in Ukraine, Macron clarified that while he wouldn’t send combat soldiers, the possibility of contributing to a security force post-negotiations remains open as a means to provide “guarantees” for Ukraine‘s safety: “We don’t rule out, within a framework planned with our allies, the possibility of having forces which, once peace has been negotiated, could contribute to guaranteeing Ukraine‘s security.”
| Daily Express US