 "Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Emmanuel Macron and Donald Trump leaving their meeting at the Élysée presidential palace in Paris on 7 December 2024. AFP")
French President Emmanuel Macron recently responded to US President Donald Trump’s remarks that Russia may not fully withdraw from Ukrainian territory. He warned that any peace deal in Ukraine “that is a capitulation” would be “bad news for everyone.”
In an interview with Financial Times, Macron said that any arrangement that would leave Ukrainian land under Russian control would have broader consequences, including for the United States.
Broader context
His remarks followed Trump’s decision to hold talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin in an effort to end the war.
Macron has been leading discussions with European allies on how to ensure any peace deal, including the potential deployment of troops to Ukraine to deter further Russian aggression.
Zelenskyy stated that a military force of 150,000 to 200,000 troops, with US involvement, would deter Russia from launching another attack.
European leaders reacted strongly to Trump’s decision, but Macron took a balanced approach. He mentioned that the discussions created a “window of opportunity,” while accentuating that the final terms must honour Ukraine’s sovereignty.
Only Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has the authority to negotiate for his country.
“The only question at this stage is whether President Putin is genuinely, sustainably, and credibly willing to agree to a ceasefire on this basis,” Financial Times quoted Macron as saying. “After that, it’s up to the Ukrainians to negotiate with Russia.”
Europe must step up
Macron also reiterated his long-standing view that Europe must take on greater responsibility for its own security.
He described Trump’s return to the White House as a wake-up call for the European Union, urging leaders to invest in defence and economic resilience.
“This is Europe’s moment to accelerate and execute,” he said, adding that the EU must move beyond the fiscal and monetary constraints agreed upon in 1992, which he called outdated.
Impact Shorts
View AllMacron also noted that Washington’s priorities have been shifting away from Europe for years. It isn’t just Trump effect.
The French president said that even the Biden administration had not informed France in advance of key foreign policy decisions, including the Aukus submarine deal and the withdrawal from Afghanistan. He said Trump’s stance on Ukraine was part of a broader trend, not an isolated policy shift.
“What Trump is saying to Europe is that it is up to you to carry the burden. And I say, it is up to us to take it on,” Macron said.
Security guarantees and Europe’s role
Amid the uncertainty surrounding Trump’s talks with Putin, Macron said that Europe must play a central role in shaping the region’s security framework.
He said it was up to the US to reopen negotiations, Zelenskyy to define Ukraine’s territorial position, and Europe to establish security guarantees for the region.
“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. That is where we have a role to play,” he said.