'He'll accept it': Trump says Putin 'doesn't mind' European peacekeepers in Ukraine

US President Donald Trump said on Monday that Russian President Vladimir Putin would accept European peacekeepers in Ukraine as part of any potential peace deal in the ongoing conflict.

Trump said that Putin had no objections to European troops being sent to Ukraine as peacekeepers and that he had discussed the idea with him.

“Yeah, he will accept it.” Trump said.

“Look, if we do this deal, he’s not looking for more war. He doesn’t mind. But I’ve specifically asked him that question. He has no problem with it,” the US president said.

The statement from trump came with French President Emmanuel Macron at his side during a press briefing, after both leaders met in Washington on the third anniversary of Russia’s invasion.

Macron says ‘peace must not mean surrendering Ukraine’

Macron said that any peace deal in Ukraine must include security guarantees and warned that peace cannot mean the “surrender” of Ukraine. “This peace cannot mean the surrender of Ukraine,” Macron said during a joint press conference with Trump.

Macron also said he would work with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer on a proposal to send peacekeeping troops to Ukraine in the event of a deal. The UK PM will also be on a trip to Washington and is set to meet Trump at the White House on Thursday.

Macron emphasised that talks with US President Donald Trump had shown a path forward despite fears of a transatlantic rift.

US votes in Russia’s support

Earlier, the US voted against a UN resolution condemning Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, joining North Korea, Belarus, and other Russia-aligned countries instead of its European allies. Democrats called the decision a “disgrace.”

Complete change in US stance

There are mounting concerns over Trump shifting towards a pro-Russia stance, which is a complete change from the US position during Joe Biden’s presidency. In a war of words, Trump also referred to Zelensky as a “dictator without elections.”