French President Emmanuel Macron is set to meet US counterpart Donald Trump in Washington on Monday, where he plans to emphasize the importance of not showing weakness in the face of Russian leader Vladimir Putin.
Macron’s message to Trump is clear: “You can’t be weak in the face of President Putin.” The French president believes that Trump’s recent statements echoing Putin’s narrative and plans for direct negotiations with Moscow have left European allies worried. However, Macron sees an opportunity for Western alliances to strengthen their position by creating uncertainty in talks with Russia.
Macron hopes to persuade Trump that US interests and those of the Europeans are aligned, warning that if Ukraine falls into Russian hands, it would be “unstoppable.” He emphasizes the need for a negotiated peace deal involving Ukrainians and Europeans working together at the table. Macron also appears ready to support increased defense spending by Europe, suggesting that French troops could contribute to a security force once a peace deal is achieved.
The meeting comes as Trump has called on boosting defense spending, and Macron seems open to exploring this option within a planned framework with allies.
Source: https://apnews.com/article/trump-macron-ukraine-china-ec6310fca8b9a20650bbb196d48d43f9