 "Macron meets Trump as Europe scrambles to save Ukraine from being sacrificed to Putin")
France’s President Emmanuel Macron arrived in Washington while European leaders headed to Ukraine to salvage whatever was left of their traditional alliances. The continent has decided to implement a two-pronged strategy which would aim to keep US President Donald Trump on their side while saving Ukraine from falling into the hands of Russian President Vladimir Putin at the same time.
The visits are coming after a week of reeling through the provocative remarks made by the members of the Trump administration as they fear that the continent is getting excluded from a three-way peace talks between Russia, the United States and Ukraine. During his trip to Washington, Macron is scheduled to hold talks with Trump on Monday. Before heading to Washington Macron told reporters that he would try to convince Trump that letting Putin win in Ukraine would be “a huge strategic mistake."
Meanwhile, the UK Prime Minister Keir Starme r is set to follow with a separate trip to Washington. The British premier is due to meet Trump on Thursday, a week after Starmer said that the UK would be “ ready and willing ” to put its troops on the ground in Ukraine as a security guarantee. The visits are being conducted as the Russia-Ukraine war marks its third anniversary on February 23.
Europe looks for ‘bold action’
While getting excluded by the Trump administration, several European Union leaders insisted that the body should take bold actions against Russia’s advances in Ukraine. “Enough talking, it’s time to act!” Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk wrote on X last week, calling for using frozen Russian assets to finance aid to Ukraine and strengthening air defences along EU borders with Russia.
Tusk is one of the European leaders who has claimed to have solid ties with Trump and has sought to ease tensions between Washington and Kyiv. While Macron will sit down for talks with Trump, the EU and its closest allies will be busy in the show of force in Ukraine. The trip, they believe, is designed to signal the bloc’s solidarity behind the war-stricken nation and its President Vladimir Zelenskyy.
As they prepare for the trip, the EU leaders also also preparing a package of military support for Ukraine that’s expected to be worth at least €20 billion, Politico reported. Keeping this in mind, the bloc’s top diplomat, Kaja Kallas, has asked each EU country to review their military inventories to see what they can give to Kyiv, with an emphasis on artillery shells, air defences, training and equipment for Ukraine’s brigades.
Impact Shorts
More ShortsMacron’s talks with Trump will be an acid test
It is pertinent to note that Macron's visit to Washington will now be seen as an acid test of his diplomatic skills as he navigates through the turbulent waters. The visit is also coming days after Trump accused the French president of “giving nothing” to Ukraine and failing to try to end the war, in an interview with Fox News. The French leader will now be hoping to convince Trump that alliance with Europe and defending the continent is also good for America’s interest.
“The president is one of the rare leaders who has real experience [with Trump] and who worked closely with Trump during his first mandate,” a French presidential aide told Politico.
Last week, Macron said that he would tell Trump that his overtures to Russia’s Putin will backfire. “I’m going to tell him: ‘You can’t be weak with President Putin. That’s not who you are, it’s not your trademark, it’s not in your interest’,” Macron said Thursday in a Q&A on the internet. Hence, it will be interesting to see how the meeting between the two leaders would play out in reality.
 "Russian drones over Poland: Trump’s tepid reaction a wake-up call for Nato?")
 "As Russia pushes east, Ukraine faces mounting pressure to defend its heartland")
 "Why Mossad was not on board with Israel’s strike on Hamas in Qatar")
 "Turkey: Erdogan's police arrest opposition mayor Hasan Mutlu, dozens officials in corruption probe")
 "Russian drones over Poland: Trump’s tepid reaction a wake-up call for Nato?")
 "As Russia pushes east, Ukraine faces mounting pressure to defend its heartland")
 "Why Mossad was not on board with Israel’s strike on Hamas in Qatar")
 "Turkey: Erdogan's police arrest opposition mayor Hasan Mutlu, dozens officials in corruption probe")
