Macron: Peace in Ukraine amounts to capitulation
3 Min Read
The French president stressed the need for European involvement in contributing to the region's security framework after being blindsided by Trump.
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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 February 13, 2025. (AP)
Peace in Ukraine would amount to "capitulation," French President Emmanuel Macron said in an interview with the Financial Times.
Macron's statements come after United States President Donald Trump spoke to Russian President Vladimir Putin about ending the conflict in Ukraine and later spoke to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
The French president saw that peace in the Eastern European country would be "bad news for everyone."
Macron stressed Europe's role in regional security while saying that it would be up to Ukraine to discuss issues of territory and sovereignty.
"It is up to the international community, with a specific role for the Europeans, to discuss security guarantees and, more broadly, the security framework for the entire region," Macron said.
Read more: European countries call for their involvement in Ukraine talks
Ukraine will not accept deals without its involvement: Zelensky
Ukraine's war effort has largely been supplemented by the US, which provided Kiev with at least $65.9 billion in military assistance since 2022. This includes crucial supersonic tactical ballistic missiles, main battle tanks, armored vehicles, air defense systems, and artillery, not to mention intelligence support and training.
Since Trump assumed the presidency, US support for Kiev has shifted, with the president expressing skepticism about Ukraine joining NATO and stating that regaining all territory from Russian control is "unlikely." The US president has also said US representatives will meet with Russian counterparts in Munich, amid a security conference that will be attended by Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
"Russia is going to be there with our people," Trump said. "Ukraine is also invited, by the way. Not sure exactly who's going to be there from any country but high-level people from Russia, from Ukraine, and from the United States."
However, Kiev appeared caught off guard by the statement, with Zelensky's advisor, Dmytro Lytvun, expressing surprise, saying such remarks were "not expected."
The Ukrainian president said that his government will not accept any deal reached by Trump and Putin without Ukraine's involvement.
"We cannot accept it, as an independent country," Zelensky said.
He also said that Europeans should be involved in such talks, as he prepares to meet US Vice President JD Vance at the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference on Friday.
Read more: Preparations for Putin-Trump meeting could take weeks, months: Kremlin
