Trump and Macron Discuss Ukraine Conflict and Trade Relations
U.S. President Donald Trump expresses hopes for an end to the war in Ukraine, while French President Emmanuel Macron emphasizes the need for security guarantees.
During a joint press conference at the White House, U.S. President Donald Trump expressed optimism that the ongoing conflict in Ukraine might be nearing its conclusion following discussions with French President Emmanuel Macron.
Despite this hopeful outlook, Macron cautioned that peace should not equate to Ukraine's capitulation.
He stated that true peace cannot be reached if it means subjugating Ukraine, highlighting the importance of maintaining a world order where the rule of law prevails over the power of might.
Macron commended the resilience of the Ukrainian people in their struggle against Russian aggression and stressed that any ceasefire would not be sustainable without adequate security guarantees.
He pointed out that the ongoing war, which marks its three-year anniversary, poses existential challenges not only for Ukraine but for the stability of Europe as a whole.
Addressing the press, Macron emphasized the necessity for European nations to increase their contributions towards defense and security within Europe, suggesting that financial burdens should be more equitably shared rather than predominantly resting on the United States.
"As Europeans, we are committed to participating in these security guarantees.
We are very aware that we need to do more for security in Europe and share the burden of defense more fairly," Macron remarked.
He reaffirmed that Ukraine's sovereignty is an essential element for collective security in the region.
In contrast, Trump stated that the war in Ukraine could have been avoided had he been in office and asserted that he had made more progress toward peace during his administration than has been observed in the last three years.
He underscored the urgency of achieving a ceasefire and a lasting peace, noting that his meeting with Macron was an important step in that direction.
The U.S. President expressed satisfaction that both he and Macron agreed European nations should bear a larger share of the costs associated with maintaining peace in Ukraine.
Trump mentioned, "I believe taxpayers in the U.S. also deserve to recover the tremendous amounts of money we have sent," indicating a desire for a reassessment of aid dynamics.
Trump's administration plans to move away from the strategies employed by the current administration under President Joe Biden regarding Ukraine.
He asserted that talks between Russia and his administration were progressing toward peace.
The press conference concluded a day of high-level discussions between Trump, Macron, and their respective teams, as they also connected virtually with leaders from the Group of Seven (G7) advanced economies.
During their discussions, Macron highlighted the topic of fair competition in trade, aiming to dissuade Trump from imposing new tariffs on EU countries.
Macron articulated the shared goal of prosperity for both the U.S. and Europe, stating that continued negotiations would happen between their teams to further refine their collaborative economic strategies.
Trump is reportedly considering revoking exemptions for steel and aluminum tariffs put in place in 2018, with potential reciprocal tariffs on imports anticipated as early as April.
Despite this hopeful outlook, Macron cautioned that peace should not equate to Ukraine's capitulation.
He stated that true peace cannot be reached if it means subjugating Ukraine, highlighting the importance of maintaining a world order where the rule of law prevails over the power of might.
Macron commended the resilience of the Ukrainian people in their struggle against Russian aggression and stressed that any ceasefire would not be sustainable without adequate security guarantees.
He pointed out that the ongoing war, which marks its three-year anniversary, poses existential challenges not only for Ukraine but for the stability of Europe as a whole.
Addressing the press, Macron emphasized the necessity for European nations to increase their contributions towards defense and security within Europe, suggesting that financial burdens should be more equitably shared rather than predominantly resting on the United States.
"As Europeans, we are committed to participating in these security guarantees.
We are very aware that we need to do more for security in Europe and share the burden of defense more fairly," Macron remarked.
He reaffirmed that Ukraine's sovereignty is an essential element for collective security in the region.
In contrast, Trump stated that the war in Ukraine could have been avoided had he been in office and asserted that he had made more progress toward peace during his administration than has been observed in the last three years.
He underscored the urgency of achieving a ceasefire and a lasting peace, noting that his meeting with Macron was an important step in that direction.
The U.S. President expressed satisfaction that both he and Macron agreed European nations should bear a larger share of the costs associated with maintaining peace in Ukraine.
Trump mentioned, "I believe taxpayers in the U.S. also deserve to recover the tremendous amounts of money we have sent," indicating a desire for a reassessment of aid dynamics.
Trump's administration plans to move away from the strategies employed by the current administration under President Joe Biden regarding Ukraine.
He asserted that talks between Russia and his administration were progressing toward peace.
The press conference concluded a day of high-level discussions between Trump, Macron, and their respective teams, as they also connected virtually with leaders from the Group of Seven (G7) advanced economies.
During their discussions, Macron highlighted the topic of fair competition in trade, aiming to dissuade Trump from imposing new tariffs on EU countries.
Macron articulated the shared goal of prosperity for both the U.S. and Europe, stating that continued negotiations would happen between their teams to further refine their collaborative economic strategies.
Trump is reportedly considering revoking exemptions for steel and aluminum tariffs put in place in 2018, with potential reciprocal tariffs on imports anticipated as early as April.
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