Trump hopes for end to Russia-Ukraine conflict in meeting with Emmanuel Macron

By Addison Brewer-Hay

President Donald Trump met with French President Emmanuel Macron Monday to discuss foreign policies and the ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine. Trump suggested Russian President Vladimir Putin would accept European peacekeepers in Ukraine. He also acknowledged ongoing negotiation efforts with Putin, saying, “I think a lot of progress has been made.”

“We’ve had some very good talks with Russia,” he added. We’ve had some very good talks with others, and we’re trying to get the war ended with Russia and Ukraine.”

However, despite Macron’s pleasantries with Trump, he expressed a different tone when discussing his stance on the conflict.

“This peace must not mean a surrender of Ukraine,” Macron told reporters in the East Room of the White House. “It must not mean a cease-fire without guarantees. This peace must allow for Ukrainian sovereignty.”

According to AP News, Trump also said that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy may visit Washington D.C. to grant the United States access to Ukraine’s rare minerals. This agreement would help repay the United States for the aid they provided to Ukrainian war forces. 

Since the conflict’s beginning, the United States has provided around $180 billion dollars to Ukraine’s war efforts. As part of this agreement, Ukraine is looking for security guarantees. 

Zelenskyy initially did not approve the minerals deal, saying it was short on security guarantees for Ukraine. He posted on X Sunday that “we are making great progress“ but expressed that “we want a good economic deal that will be part of a true security guarantee system for Ukraine.”

The Associated Press reported the Trump administration’s actions continue to leave European leaders conflicted on America’s foreign policies.