French President Emmanuel Macron will deliver a sharp message to Donald Trump during their upcoming Washington meeting: transatlantic credibility depends on confronting Vladimir Putin’s aggression in Ukraine. In a social media briefing Thursday, Macron stressed that Western allies cannot afford hesitation as U.S.-led negotiations aim to resolve Europe's most explosive conflict since WWII.
You can’t be weak in the face of President Putin,Macron stated. How can you then be credible in the face of China if you’re weak in the face of Putin?
This high-stakes strategy session comes amid growing European concerns about Trump’s recent pro-Putin rhetoric and proposals for direct Moscow talks without Ukrainian input. Macron conceded Trump’s unpredictable stance creates strategic uncertainty that could benefit Western bargaining power, but warned: If you let Russia take over Ukraine, it would be unstoppable.
Key elements of Macron’s agenda include:
- Coordinating military support to prevent a Russian victory
- Ensuring Ukraine leads all peace negotiations
- Expanding European defense budgets post-US pressure
While ruling out French combat deployments, Macron revealed plans for potential post-ceasefire security forces to stabilize Ukraine. We want peace, but not surrender,he emphasized, referencing past failures with Russian territorial ambitions.
The meeting also addresses Trump’s demands for fairer NATO cost-sharing. Macron confirmed Europe must intensify its military investments but stressed this aligns with U.S. interests. Analysts view these talks as critical for preventing escalation with both Russia and emboldened global rivals like China.
