President Donald Trump mentioned he was hopeful that Russia’s war in Ukraine was nearing an endgame as he met on Monday (February 24, 2025) with French President Emmanuel Macron on the third anniversary of the invasion.
Mr. Trump, in broad-ranging feedback on the state of the battle, mentioned he believed Russian President Vladimir Putin would settle for European peacekeepers in Ukraine to maintain the peace. He additionally expressed hope that the battle might finish inside weeks and that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy would quickly come to the U.S. to signal a deal to offer the U.S. entry to Ukraine’s essential minerals to assist repay among the $180 billion in American support that’s been despatched to Kyiv because the begin of the war.
“It looks like we’re getting very close,” Mr. Trump instructed reporters at first of his bilateral assembly with Mr. Macron. He added that Mr. Zelenskyy might probably go to Washington this week or subsequent to signal the deal.
Mr. Trump and Mr. Macron earlier on Monday (February 24, 2025) participated in a digital assembly with fellow Group of Seven leaders to debate the war.
The talks come at a second of deep uncertainty about the way forward for transatlantic relations, with Mr. Trump reworking American international coverage and successfully tuning out European management as he seems to be to rapidly finish the war in Ukraine.
Ukraine is additionally on the lookout for future safety ensures as a part of any settlement. Mr. Trump, nonetheless, didn’t say whether or not the rising deal would come with American safety ensures.
“Europe is going to make sure nothing happens,” Mr. Trump mentioned.
The anniversary — and talks — come at an unnerving second for a lot of Europe witnessing a dramatic shift in American international coverage with Trump’s return to energy.
Mr. Trump additionally has made calls for for territory — Greenland, Canada, Gaza and the Panama Canal — as nicely as treasured uncommon earth minerals from Ukraine. Just over a month into his second time period, the “America First” president has forged an monumental shadow over what veteran U.S. diplomats and former authorities officers had regarded as America’s calming presence of world stability and continuity.
‘Peace must not mean a surrender of Ukraine’
Mr. Macron at a joint press convention with Mr. Trump following their assembly mentioned their talks had been productive and acknowledged that European nations should do extra to bolster defence on the continent. But Mr. Macron additionally warned towards capitulating to Russia.
″This peace should not imply a give up of Ukraine,” Mr. Macron mentioned. “It must not mean a ceasefire without guarantees. This peace must allow for Ukrainian sovereignty.”
Mr. Trump mentioned he believed Mr. Putin would settle for European peacekeepers in Ukraine as a part of a possible deal to finish Russia’s war there. “Yeah, he will accept it,” Mr. Trump mentioned. “I have asked him that question. Look, if we do this deal, he’s not looking for more war.”
The Kremlin didn’t instantly reply to a request for remark.
Mr. Putin has repeatedly railed towards Western forces on Russia’s borders and beforehand mentioned that European or U.S forces in Ukraine can be a serious safety subject for Moscow.
Despite some hiccups, the navy, financial and ethical energy of the United States has dominated the post-World War II period, most notably after the Cold War got here to an finish with the collapse of the Soviet Union. All of that, some concern, could also be misplaced if Trump will get his means and the U.S. abandons the rules below which the United Nations and quite a few different worldwide our bodies had been based.
“The only conclusion you can draw is that 80 years of policy in standing up against aggressors has just been blown up without any sort of discussion or reflection,” mentioned Ian Kelly, a U.S. ambassador to Georgia through the Obama and first Trump administration and now a professor at Northwestern University.
Mr. Trump is set to carry a gathering Thursday (February 27, 2025) with one other key European chief, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer.
The talks come after Mr. Trump shook Europe with repeated criticism of Mr. Zelenskyy for failing to barter an finish to the war and rebuffing a push to log off on a deal giving the U.S. entry to Ukraine’s uncommon earth minerals, which may very well be used in the American aerospace, medical and tech industries.
European leaders dismayed
European leaders additionally had been dismayed by Mr. Trump’s determination to dispatch high aides for preliminary talks with Russian officers in Saudi Arabia with out Ukrainian or European officers on the desk.
Meanwhile, the United States on Monday (February 24, 2025) did not get the U.N. General Assembly to approve its decision urging an finish to the war with out mentioning Moscow’s aggression. The meeting accepted a duelling European-backed Ukrainian decision demanding Russia instantly withdraw from Ukraine.
On the minerals deal, Mr. Zelenskyy initially bristled, saying it was quick on safety ensures for Ukraine. He mentioned Sunday (February 23, 2025) on X that “we are making great progress“ but noted that “we want a good economic deal that will be part of a true security guarantee system for Ukraine.”
The friction follows a public spat, with Mr. Trump calling Mr. Zelenskyy a “dictator” and falsely charging Kyiv with beginning the war. Russia, in reality, invaded its smaller and lesser-equipped neighbor in February 2022.
Asked on Monday (February 24, 2025) if he thought Mr. Putin was additionally a dictator, Mr. Trump demurred. “I don’t use those words lightly,” Mr. Trump mentioned.
Mr. Zelenskyy, who mentioned Sunday (February 23, 2025) in response to a query that he would commerce his workplace for peace or to hitch NATO, then angered Mr. Trump by saying the U.S. president was dwelling in a Russian-made “disinformation space.” Confronting Mr. Trump won’t be the perfect strategy, analysts say.
“The response to President Trump doing something to you is not to do something back right away. You tend to get this kind of reaction,” mentioned retired Rear Adm. Mark Montgomery, a senior fellow on the Foundation for the Defense of Democracies.
Mr. Macron mentioned forward of the assembly he supposed to inform Mr. Trump it’s in the joint curiosity of Americans and Europeans to not present weak point to Mr. Putin throughout U.S.-led negotiations to finish the war in Ukraine. He additionally recommended he’ll make the case that how Mr. Trump handles Mr. Putin might have monumental ramifications for U.S. dealings with China, the United States’ most vital financial and navy competitor.
“You can’t be weak in the face of President Putin. It’s not you, it’s not your trademark, it’s not in your interest,” Mr. Macron mentioned. “How can you then be credible in the face of China if you’re weak in the face of Putin?’”
Yet, Mr. Trump has proven a substantial measure of respect for the Russian chief. Mr. Trump mentioned this month he’d wish to see Russia rejoin what is now the Group of Seven main economies. Russia was suspended from the G8 after Moscow’s 2014 annexation of Ukraine’s Crimea area.
Published – February 25, 2025 12:25 am IST
