French President Emmanuel Macron has stated his intention to advise U.S. President Donald Trump that it is in the shared interest of Americans and Europeans not to appear "weak" when dealing with Russian President Vladimir Putin, especially during U.S.-led efforts to resolve the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, which has persisted for nearly three years.
The White House has confirmed that Macron will meet with Trump on Monday. During a one-hour social media Q&A session on Thursday, Macron revealed that he plans to tell Trump: "You cannot afford to be weak in the face of President Putin. It’s not in your character, it’s not your trademark, and it’s not in your interest. How can you expect to be credible in dealing with China if you show weakness toward Putin?"
Trump’s recent remarks, which align with Putin’s narrative, as well as his plans to engage in direct negotiations with Moscow, have raised concerns among European allies and Ukrainian officials. However, Macron suggested that Trump’s strategy of creating "uncertainty" in discussions with Russia could ultimately benefit Western allies. "Putin doesn’t know what Trump is going to do. He thinks Trump is capable of anything. This uncertainty works in our favor and Ukraine’s favor," Macron explained.
In his efforts to address rising tensions, Macron has expressed his commitment to convincing Trump that American and European interests are aligned. He warned, "If you allow Russia to take control of Ukraine, it will become unstoppable." Macron also stressed the importance of including both Ukrainians and Europeans in any potential peace negotiations, stating, "We want peace, but not a ceasefire that amounts to Ukraine’s surrender, as that would be dangerous. We know it would only encourage Russia to push further. We’ve seen this before."
Additionally, Macron has indicated his willingness to respond to Trump’s calls for increased defense spending, acknowledging, "We Europeans must step up our war efforts." On the question of deploying French troops in Ukraine, Macron clarified that while he would not send combat soldiers, the possibility of contributing to a security force after negotiations remains open. He explained, "We do not rule out, within a framework agreed upon with our allies, the possibility of deploying forces to help guarantee Ukraine’s security once peace has been negotiated."
Macron’s statements underscore his determination to maintain a strong Western stance against Russian aggression while seeking a balanced approach to resolving the conflict in Ukraine.
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