Emmanuel Macron has mentioned Europe needs to safe an enduring peace in Ukraine, because the French president met with United States President Donald Trump on the White Home on the third anniversary of Russia’s invasion.
Talking alongside Trump within the Oval Workplace on Monday, Macron mentioned the “widespread goal” was to construct “a strong and longstanding peace” within the war-torn nation.
“We do share the target of peace however we’re very conscious of the need to have ensures and a strong peace so as to stabilise the state of affairs,” the French president informed reporters.
“This can be a crucial second for Europe,” Macron added.
“I’m right here as effectively after discussions with all my colleagues, to say that Europe is prepared to step as much as be a stronger accomplice, to do extra in defence and safety for its continent, and … to be engaged on commerce, financial system and investments.”
Macron’s go to to Washington, DC comes amid rising concern in Europe about the way forward for transatlantic relations as Trump advances his “America First” international coverage agenda and urges a fast finish to the Ukraine conflict.
The Republican chief’s push to launch negotiations between senior US and Russian diplomats with out the participation of Ukrainian or European leaders has raised tensions, with Europe questioning Washington’s dedication to its safety.
Trump, who took workplace on January 20, mentioned on Monday that “plenty of progress has been made” to this point on efforts to finish the battle.
“We’ve had some superb talks with Russia,” the US president informed reporters.
“We’ve had some superb talks with others, and we’re attempting to get the conflict ended with Russia and Ukraine, and I believe we’ve come a great distance in a brief interval of weeks.”
Elevated tensions
Macron and Trump met because the US president’s repeated criticisms of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy have additionally shaken Europe.
Final week, Trump known as Zelenskyy a “dictator” and prompt that Ukraine was responsible for the conflict, regardless of Russia launching the invasion of its neighbour in 2022.
He additionally dismissed the Ukrainian chief’s complaints about Ukraine and Europe not being included within the opening of US-Russia talks, saying Zelenskyy has been negotiating “with no playing cards, and also you get sick of it.”
Macron has tried to coordinate a European response to Washington’s sudden coverage shift, hoping to make use of a bond he fostered with Trump throughout the US president’s first time period, from 2017 to 2021.
The French president earlier mentioned he supposed to inform Trump throughout their talks that it’s within the joint curiosity of Individuals and Europeans to not present weak point to Russian President Vladimir Putin throughout US-led negotiations to finish the conflict.
Reporting from Washington, DC, Al Jazeera’s Alan Fisher mentioned European leaders are finally not searching for a quick peace deal in Ukraine, however one that may guarantee stability for the nation.
“There’s a concern that Trump needs to race into this [peace deal] and there’s a fear that will imply Ukraine’s sovereignty is undermined,” Fisher mentioned.
US Nationwide Safety Advisor Mike Waltz informed reporters on Monday that the 2 sides “count on to speak fairly a bit concerning the safety ensures that Macron has placed on the desk”.
“Trump and Macron would additionally talk about the thorny situation of commerce with the European Union, with the US president threatening sweeping tariffs towards the bloc,” Waltz mentioned.
European peacekeepers?
Within the Oval Workplace, Macron mentioned Europe was ready to offer safety ensures to Ukraine, together with peacekeepers, within the occasion of a ceasefire.
Trump mentioned Washington backed the thought of sending European peacekeeping troops. He added that he had raised the idea with Putin and that the Russian president would settle for it.
Rachel Rizzo, a senior fellow on the Atlantic Council’s Europe Heart, informed Al Jazeera that the assembly between Trump and Macron signalled the potential for actual progress on a peace settlement for Ukraine.
The French president “has been fairly forward-leaning for a very long time on not simply European strategic autonomy and offering extra for their very own defence, but additionally on what Europe must do for Ukraine”, Rizzo mentioned.
That made the assembly with Trump a promising one, she added.
“It’s heartening to listen to Macron saying that Europe can be prepared to doubtlessly ship peacekeepers, and it’s good additionally to listen to that Trump can be prepared to just accept that as effectively.”
