Emmanuel Macron and Donald Trump in the Oval Office. Photo: Bonnie Cash
Despite their outward friendliness, Donald Trump and Emmanuel Macron demonstrated a significant difference in their approaches to the Ukrainian issue on Monday. This once again underscored the misunderstanding between the US and Europe over the White House’s proposal for a quick ceasefire, Reuters, Le Monde and The Guardian write.
The meeting between the two leaders in Washington became a real “dialogue for the deaf,” Le Monde notes. Even though the French president repeatedly refuted the American leader’s statements, Trump remained convinced: Europe has not done enough to support Ukraine.
Macron vs Trump: the diplomatic balance
Macron was once called “Trump’s tamer,” but this meeting showed how complex his diplomatic manoeuvre has become. In the Oval Office, the French president gently corrected Trump when he said that Ukraine had benefited from American assistance in the war with Russia.
“This war has cost us all a lot of money,” Macron said. “And this is Russia’s responsibility, because it is the aggressor,” he stressed.
Trump tried to prove that Europe was only lending money to Ukraine: “They are getting their money back.”
“No,” Macron said, putting his hand on Trump’s wrist. “We contributed 60% of the total cost. We provided real money, so that everything is clear.”
Attempts at diplomacy and real differences
During both public meetings – at the White House and at the press conference – Macron sought to maintain a warm tone. He praised Trump for his leadership, patted him on the back, and even gave an interview to Fox News, stressing that Trump’s arrival was a game changer. At the same time, he remained adamant that Russia is the aggressor and that any peace talks must include clear security guarantees.
Against this backdrop, Trump’s behaviour stood in contrast: he did not call Putin a dictator, while a week earlier he had used the term to describe Volodymyr Zelenskyy. He insisted on an immediate ceasefire, without any specifics on how to preserve Ukraine’s sovereignty.
Deepening the split
The difference in approach also came to the surface at the UN General Assembly. The United States tried to block a resolution by the EU and Ukraine condemning Russia three years after the start of the large-scale invasion. Nevertheless, the resolution was adopted, putting the US in the same camp as Russia, Belarus and North Korea, which sent a wake-up call to its European allies.
While Paris, Berlin and Brussels lit up their iconic buildings in yellow and blue in solidarity with Ukraine, the White House ignored any such gestures.
The German signal: Europe wants independence
In Berlin, CDU leader Friedrich Merz, a potential future German Chancellor, said: “Our absolute priority is to strengthen Europe so that step by step we can become independent of the United States.”
“Before, I would not have imagined saying this on air,” he said. “But after Trump’s statements, it’s clear that the American leadership – or at least part of it – is indifferent to the fate of Europe.”
What to expect next?
Macron left Washington without any guarantees of American support for Ukraine. The next to leave for the US is British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who will also try to persuade Trump not to create a split between Europe and the US.
However, London is cautious. “We don’t want to irritate Trump – that would be counterproductive to the security of Ukraine and Europe,” Starmer’s adviser said.
“We are interested in what he does, not what he says. So far, we see a certain difference.”
