President Donald Trump voiced optimism that Russia’s war in Ukraine is approaching a resolution as he met with French President Emmanuel Macron on Monday, marking the third anniversary of the invasion. However, Macron emphasized the importance of ensuring that any potential agreement with Moscow does not equate to Ukraine’s surrender.
The discussions took place amid significant uncertainty regarding the future of transatlantic relations, as Trump seeks to reshape American foreign policy. His approach has largely sidelined European leadership while he pursues a swift resolution to the conflict in Ukraine.
Although Trump and Macron displayed cordiality at the White House, their respective nations were engaged in a dispute at the United Nations over resolutions that labeled Russia as the aggressor in the war.
Addressing the broader conflict, Trump stated that he believed Russian President Vladimir Putin would be open to the presence of European peacekeepers in Ukraine.
“Yeah, he will accept it,” Trump said to reporters. “I have asked him that question. Look, if we do this deal, he’s not looking for more war.”
Trump also expressed hope that the war could conclude within weeks. He suggested that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy would soon travel to the United States to finalize an agreement allowing America access to Ukraine’s essential minerals, which are crucial for advanced technology.
The economic deal Trump is promoting is intended to compensate for some of the $180 billion in U.S. aid that has been allocated to Kyiv since the war began. A portion of these funds has been utilized domestically to replenish aging weapons that were supplied to Ukraine.
“It looks like we’re getting very close,” Trump said regarding the minerals deal before his meeting with Macron. He indicated that Zelenskyy might visit Washington this week or next to sign the agreement.
Ukraine’s Security Considerations
Ukraine is also seeking long-term security assurances as part of any settlement. However, Trump did not specify whether the developing agreement would include such commitments from the United States. Instead, he remarked, “Europe is going to make sure nothing happens.”
A French official familiar with the discussions between Macron and Trump indicated that the U.S. president did not oppose the idea of American security guarantees in a potential peace agreement, though the specifics were still being negotiated. The official spoke anonymously, as they were not authorized to comment publicly.
During a joint press conference, Macron acknowledged that European nations must increase their defense efforts but warned against conceding too much to Russia.
“This peace must not mean a surrender of Ukraine,” Macron asserted. “It must not mean a ceasefire without guarantees. This peace must allow for Ukrainian sovereignty.”
Macron had ceased direct communication with Putin after Russian forces carried out atrocities in the Kyiv suburb of Bucha early in the conflict. However, he stated that the situation had evolved and expressed hope that Trump’s engagement with Putin could lead to progress.
“Now, there is a big chance because there is a new U.S. administration, so this is a new context,” Macron said. “So there is good reason for President Trump to reengage with President Putin.”
Putin, however, stated on Monday that he had not discussed a detailed resolution to the conflict with Trump. Additionally, Russian and American negotiation teams had not delved into specifics when they met in Saudi Arabia last week.
Putin also mentioned that Russia was open to including European nations—who were initially excluded from the talks in Riyadh—in future peace negotiations.
A Shift in American Foreign Policy
The third anniversary of the war and the discussions at the White House occurred at a time of considerable unease in Europe. Trump’s administration has ushered in a drastic shift in U.S. foreign policy.
Trump has made bold territorial demands involving Greenland, Canada, Gaza, and the Panama Canal. Just over a month into his second term, his “America First” approach has raised concerns among diplomats and former government officials who previously viewed the United States as a pillar of global stability.
Despite occasional missteps, the United States’ military, economic, and diplomatic influence has defined the post-World War II era, particularly after the Soviet Union’s collapse ended the Cold War. Many fear that Trump’s strategy could dismantle these long-standing principles, including those that underpin the United Nations and other international institutions.
“The only conclusion you can draw is that 80 years of policy in standing up against aggressors has just been blown up without any sort of discussion or reflection,” said Ian Kelly, a former U.S. ambassador to Georgia during the Obama and first Trump administrations and currently a professor at Northwestern University.
Meetings with European Leaders
Trump is set to meet with another key European leader, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, on Thursday.
His approach to Ukraine has unsettled European allies, particularly his repeated criticism of Zelenskyy for not engaging in negotiations to end the war. Trump has also pushed for Ukraine to sign an economic deal granting the U.S. access to its vital mineral resources, which are valuable to American aerospace, medical, and technology industries.
Initially, Zelenskyy resisted the proposal, citing the lack of security guarantees. On Sunday, he wrote on X that “we are making great progress” but insisted that “we want a good economic deal that will be part of a true security guarantee system for Ukraine.”
During a public dispute, Trump accused Zelenskyy of residing in a “Russian-made disinformation space” and labeled him a “dictator,” falsely asserting that Kyiv had instigated the war. In reality, Russia invaded its smaller, less-equipped neighbor in February 2022.
When asked on Monday whether he considered Putin a dictator as well, Trump declined to use the term, stating, “I don’t use those words lightly.”
Differences Among Allies
While Macron and Trump engaged in discussions, including a virtual meeting with fellow Group of Seven (G7) leaders, the United States diverged from its European allies at the United Nations. The U.S. refrained from endorsing resolutions that explicitly blamed Russia for the invasion of Ukraine.
The United States ultimately abstained from voting on its own resolution after European countries, led by France, succeeded in amending it to explicitly identify Russia as the aggressor.
Before meeting with Trump, Macron emphasized that he would urge the U.S. president to recognize the shared interest of Americans and Europeans in not appearing weak in front of Putin.
“It’s not you, it’s not your trademark, it’s not in your interest,” Macron said. “How can you then be credible in the face of China if you’re weak in the face of Putin?”
Despite this stance, Trump has indicated his desire for Russia to rejoin the G7, from which it was expelled in 2014 following its annexation of Crimea.
“I really believe he wants to make a deal,” Trump said regarding Putin. “I may be wrong, but I believe he wants to make a deal.”