Macron tells Trump Europe wants to secure ‘solid peace’ in Ukraine

As Emmanuel Macron met with US President Donald Trump at the White House on the third anniversary of Russia’s invasion, the French president stated that Europe is interested in ensuring a long-lasting peace in Ukraine.

Speaking alongside Trump in the Oval Office on Monday, Macron said the “common objective” was to build “a solid and longstanding peace” in Ukraine.

The French president told reporters, “We do share the goal of peace, but we are very aware of the necessity of guarantees and a solid peace.”

“This is a very important moment for Europe”, Macron added.

“I’m here as well after discussions with all my colleagues, to say that Europe is willing to step up to be a stronger partner, to do more in defence and security for its continent, and … to be engaged on trade, economy and investments”.

As Trump advances his “America First” foreign policy agenda and calls for a quick resolution to the Ukraine war, Europe is growing worried about the future of transatlantic relations.

The Republican leader’s refusal to engage senior US and Russian diplomats in negotiations has sparked tensions among Europe, where it is important that they heed the demands of Ukraine and other European countries.

Trump, who took office on January 20, said on Monday that “a lot of progress has been made” so far on efforts to end the conflict.

“We’ve had some very good talks with Russia”, the US president told reporters.

“We’ve had some very good talks with others, and we’re trying to get the war ended with Russia and Ukraine, and I think we’ve come a long way in a short period of weeks”.

Increased tensions

Macron and Trump met as Trump’s repeated criticism of Volodymyr Zelenskyyy as president of the United States shakes Europe.

Despite Russia’s 2022 invasion of its neighbor, Trump called Zelenskyy a “dictator” and suggested Ukraine was to blame for the conflict last week.

He also refrained from calling for the Ukrainian leader to complain that Zelenskyy has been negotiating “with no cards, and you get sick of it,” referring to the Ukrainian leader’s assertions that Ukraine and Europe are not included in the US-Russian discussions.

Macron has tried to coordinate a European response to Washington’s sudden policy shift, hoping to use a bond he fostered with Trump during the US president’s first term, from 2017 to 2021.

Prior to the French president’s announcement, the French president stated that he intended to inform Trump that it was both Americans and Europeans’ goals to avoid showing weakness to Russian President Vladimir Putin during US-led negotiations to end the war.

Reporting from Washington, DC, Al Jazeera’s Alan Fisher said European leaders are ultimately not looking for a fast peace deal in Ukraine, but one that will ensure stability for the country.

“There is a concern that Trump wants to race into this]peace deal] and there is a worry that may mean Ukraine’s sovereignty is undermined”, Fisher said.

According to US National Security Advisor Mike Waltz, the two parties “expect talking quite a bit about the security guarantees that Macron has put on the table,” Waltz said.

Trump and Macron “would also talk about the delicate subject of trade with the European Union,” according to Waltz. The US president has threatened to impose massive tariffs on the bloc.

European peacekeepers?

In the Oval Office, Macron said Europe was prepared to provide security guarantees to Ukraine, including peacekeepers, in the event of a ceasefire.

Trump claimed that sending European peacekeeping forces was in the works. He added that Putin would approve of the idea and that he had discussed it with him.

The meeting between Trump and Macron, according to senior fellow at the Atlantic Council’s Europe Center, had the potential to make a real breakthrough in terms of a peace agreement for Ukraine, according to Rachel Rizzo.

The French president “has been fairly pro-active for a while” regarding what Europe needs to do for Ukraine in addition to providing more for their own defense, according to Rizzo.

She continued, adding that the meeting with Trump had potential to be positive.

Source: Aljazeera