French President Macron holds talks with US, Ukrainian counterparts
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According to Macron, Europe, the US, and Ukraine are working towards a peace deal that provides "strong and credible" security guarantees.
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France's President Emmanuel Macron gestures as he delivers a speech during the International Conference on Syria at the Ministerial Conference Center, in Paris, France, on Thursday, February 13, 2025. (AP)
French President Emmanuel Macron spoke with US President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Monday to discuss durable peace in Ukraine.
"After bringing together several European leaders, I have just spoken with President Donald Trump and then with President Zelenskyy. We seek a strong and lasting peace in Ukraine," Macron posted on X.
The French president added that Europe, the United States, and Ukraine are working together to achieve lasting peace in Ukraine, saying that Ukraine should receive "strong and credible" security guarantees.
After bringing together several European leaders, I have just spoken with President @realDonaldTrump and then with President @ZelenskyyUa.
— Emmanuel Macron (@EmmanuelMacron) February 17, 2025
We seek a strong and lasting peace in Ukraine. To achieve this, Russia must end its aggression, and this must be accompanied by strong…
The French president called for the trilateral summit to discuss the challenges the Trump administration and Ukraine's security pose to European security, amid efforts by European nations to accelerate the implementation of their agenda for sovereignty, security, and competitiveness to solidify their position in global affairs, according to Macron.
Trump rushes peace in Ukraine
Trump is rushing peace in Ukraine, so much so that he excluded officials from Ukraine and Europe from the US-Russia talks taking place in Saudi Arabia on Tuesday, leaving European leaders little space to guarantee their demands from a peace deal.
The Trump administration is trying to end the war in Ukraine and secure a ceasefire by April 20 according to Bloomberg, as Steve Witkoff, Trump's envoy to the Middle East expressed optimism regarding the talks between Russia and the US.
The US envoy to the Middle East told Fox News, "Hopefully we'll make some really good progress with regard to Russia, Ukraine," adding that he disagreed with some concerns from US allies about Ukraine's exclusion from the negotiations.
Meanwhile, Trump is increasing pressure on Ukraine, most recently by demanding Ukraine give the United States $500 billion in critical minerals, ports, infrastructure, oil, gas, and much more, "I told them [Ukraine] that I want the equivalent like $500B worth of rare earth. And they've essentially agreed to do that so at least we don’t feel stupid," Trump said.
Trump upped the pressure on Ukraine by saying, "They may make a deal, they may not make a deal. They may be Russian someday, or they may not be Russian someday," in an interview with Fox News prior to sending his special envoy Keith Kellogg to Ukraine to develop a peace proposal.
US Vice President JD Vance said Trump might reconsider his stance on Ukraine depending on the progress of negotiations, saying that "President Trump could say, look, we do not want this thing, we might not like this thing, but we are willing to put it back on the table if the Russians are not being good negotiating partners, or there are things that are very important to Ukrainians that we might want to take off the table."
