French President Emmanuel Macron met with Donald Trump at the White House on Monday in an effort to strengthen support for Ukraine against Russian aggression, following concerns that President Trump's outreach to Moscow over the war could destabilize the transatlantic alliance.
On the third anniversary of Russia's invasion of Ukraine, Macron and Trump joined a call with leaders from the G7 economies and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. Macron described the call as "perfect" and characterized his initial discussions with Trump as "very friendly." However, ahead of a more formal meeting later at the White House, Macron rejected Trump's recent comments, which echoed Russian President Vladimir Putin's rhetoric, falsely suggesting that Ukraine was responsible for starting the war.
"For three years, Ukraine has been fighting with admirable courage against an aggressor—Russia—for sovereignty and freedom," Macron wrote on X. "Our support for Ukraine will remain unwavering. I am in Washington to reaffirm this and to move forward with President Trump and our allies."
Both Macron and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer are visiting the White House this week, hoping to persuade Trump to continue supporting Ukraine and to involve European leaders in discussions with Moscow. Macron emphasized that he would tell the Republican, "You cannot be weak in the face of President Putin."
Trump had previously made headlines by signaling his willingness to resume diplomacy with Putin and hold talks about Ukraine's future without the involvement of European allies or Kyiv. He also repeated Russian talking points, accusing Ukraine of instigating the war and calling Zelensky a "dictator." These remarks raised concerns in Europe about Trump's potential alignment with Moscow, which could threaten the NATO alliance and long-standing transatlantic ties established after World War II.
Macron has sought to counter Washington's shift in policy by leveraging his close relationship with Trump, built on their personal rapport and iconic handshakes. During their meeting, Macron is expected to present "proposals for action" to counter the "Russian threat," according to an advisor. They will also hold a joint press conference.
Before arriving in Washington, Macron warned that Russia poses an "existential threat" to Europe. As a representative of the European Union, he has been meeting with European leaders, including Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, a known ally of Moscow. Macron aims to persuade Trump to maintain U.S. support for Ukraine, ensuring that European interests are considered while respecting Ukraine's sovereignty.
Macron and Starmer coordinated their messaging ahead of their respective visits to Washington, which also include discussions about the potential deployment of European forces to Ukraine after a peace agreement is reached. These forces would be positioned on the "second line," not on the frontlines, and could involve multinational operations with non-European contingents.
During their meetings, Macron and Starmer are expected to request that Trump offer "solid security guarantees" for these deployed forces, potentially including logistics and intelligence support. U.S. National Security Advisor Mike Waltz indicated that security guarantees would be a key focus of the discussions.
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