Ukraine progress: Macron with Trump – from a “friend” and Putin’s consent

Washington. According to US President Donald Trump and French President Emmanuel Macron, talks on preparing a peace solution to the Ukraine war have made progress. "I really believe that today was a turning point in our discussions," Macron said at a joint press conference with Trump in Washington. He spoke of "substantial progress."

The two had previously discussed Ukraine and other issues at a meeting in the White House. Trump said: "Our focus is on achieving a ceasefire and ultimately a lasting peace. My meeting with President Macron today was another important step in that area."

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Macron, whom Trump has repeatedly described as a "friend," is the first European head of state that Trump has received in his second term. The Frenchman repeatedly stressed at the meeting that the Europeans must be part of the solution - for example by providing peacekeeping troops. At the same time, he made it clear that Ukraine's sovereignty is non-negotiable. "Peace cannot mean the surrender of Ukraine," said Macron.

The French head of state expressed his satisfaction that there are now concrete talks on an action plan to achieve a lasting peace, in which the attacked country will be included. This involves security guarantees from both the Europeans and the USA. Without these, a ceasefire will not hold.

US President Donald Trump (r.) and French President Emmanuel Macron during their meeting in the Oval Office of the White House.

Source: IMAGO/UPI Photo

Macron stressed that he did not want to pre-empt any discussions. France and its British partners had been discussing guarantees in recent weeks, including the deployment of peacekeepers to secure a possible ceasefire. The Frenchman stressed: "They would not be on the front line. They would not be part of any conflict."

According to Trump, Russian President Vladimir Putin would agree to such troops. "Yes, he would accept that," the Republican said when asked. He said he had spoken to the Kremlin chief about it.

Macron's visit to Washington was preceded by a telephone call between Trump and Putin and a meeting between US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov in Riyadh.

While the US is pushing for rapid peace negotiations in Ukraine, Russia is continuing to bombard the country with drone attacks. The Europeans are increasing the pressure on Kremlin leader Putin and see themselves as being in a strong position.

Both Ukraine and its European allies were excluded from these talks, which raised concerns that the United States and Russia would negotiate without the knowledge of those affected.

Macron said talks were underway to find a solution. The aim was to ultimately reach a peace agreement and begin the reconstruction of Ukraine with the help of security guarantees. "We have a role to play in this," he said, according to the translation by a translator present.

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer also wants to come to the White House this week. Trump also says he wants to meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky this week or next week - but there are no details yet. The deal concerns an agreement on US access to raw materials stored in Ukraine, among other things, which Zelensky wants to sign personally, Trump said on the sidelines of Macron's visit.

The USA and Ukraine have been wrangling over this treaty for weeks. Zelensky initially refused to agree to such a paper because the conditions contained in it were said to be unfavorable for Ukraine. In addition, it did not contain any security guarantees for the country attacked by Russia. Ukraine had explicitly demanded these. It remains unclear whether a revised proposal now contains these.

According to information from the Ukrainian public broadcaster, Kyiv has already sent a final version of the framework agreement on access to Ukrainian raw materials to Washington.

Trump and Macron also spoke from Washington with their colleagues from the group of leading Western economies (G7). Trump said there was "great unity" during the call. Zelensky also took part in the conversation in Kyiv. According to a report by Interfax-Ukraine, he called on Trump to meet fairly quickly to "determine the conditions for peace and security guarantees."

The exploitation of raw materials in Ukraine is considered strategically important and economically lucrative. Experts point out that Ukraine will also need rare earths and other raw materials for its own reconstruction. A large part of the resources are also located in the Ukrainian territories occupied by Russia.

At the press conference, Trump emphasized that he was interested in making a good deal. "I make deals. My whole life consists of deals," said the Republican. On the sidelines of the meeting with Macron, Trump gave an evasive answer to a journalist's question about whether the country would get back territory taken by Russia. "Yes, maybe a little of it. I hope so," said the US president. "But that is not easy." This must now be negotiated.

RND/dpa/AP/jst