Peace must not mean surrendering Ukraine, Macron says alongside Trump
French President Emmanuel Macron said any peace deal in Ukraine must come with security guarantees, as he met US President Donald Trump at the White House for talks on the war.
This peace must not be a surrender of Ukraine, it must not mean a ceasefire without guarantees," he said as the two leaders held a joint news conference following their meeting on Monday.
Trump, who did not mention security guarantees himself, said the cost and burden of securing peace in Ukraine must be paid for by European nations and not just the US.Macron responded that Europe understood the need to "more fairly share the security.French President Emmanuel Macron said any peace deal in Ukraine must come with security guarantees, as he met US President Donald Trump at the White House for talks on the war.
"This peace must not be a surrender of Ukraine, it must not mean a ceasefire without guarantees," he said as the two leaders held a joint news conference following their meeting on Monday.Trump, who did not mention security guarantees himself, said the cost and burden of securing peace in Ukraine must be paid for by European nations and not just the US.
Macron responded that Europe understood the need to "more fairly share the security burden", and added that talks on the third anniversary of Russia's invasion had shown a path forward. While the pair exchanged warm words throughout the meeting, some clear differences emerged on the issue of ending the war in Ukraine as they spoke to reporters in the Oval Office and then held a 40-minute news conference shortly after.
The topic of including security guarantees in any peace deal was one area of difference, as was the potential next steps.Trump said he wanted a ceasefire as soon as possible, adding that he would visit Russia to meet President Vladimir Putin once one was agreed.
Macron, however, suggested a more considered approach involving a truce and then a broader peace deal that would include clear guarantees for protecting Ukraine long-term We want peace swiftly, but we don't want an agreement that is weak," he said.The pair did agree, however, that any peace deal should include the deployment of European peacekeeping forces to Ukraine.
"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 in the Oval Office.Trump then said Russian President Vladimir Putin would accept that. "I specifically asked him that question. He has no problem with it," he said.
