French President Emmanuel Macron. Photo: Pier Marco Tacca/Getty Images
French President Emmanuel Macron has said that Ukraine’s future depends on Kyiv’s decisions, while the US role is only to create a space for diplomatic negotiations. At the same time, it is Europe that should take responsibility for guaranteeing security on the continent, Macron said in an interview with the Financial Times.
“Trump is an electric shock to Europe”
The French leader noted that Donald Trump’s possible return to the White House is a signal to Europe that it needs to strengthen its defence capabilities.
“Trump says to Europe: this is your burden. And I say: it’s up to us to take it on,” Macron said, adding that it was time for the EU to “build muscle” in defence and the economy.
Ukraine will resolve territorial issues on its own
Macron stressed that only President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy would discuss territorial issues and the country’s sovereignty with Russia.
“The international community, especially the Europeans, must work to create security guarantees and a broader architecture of stability in the region,” the French president explained.
At the same time, Macron stressed that the key question remains whether Putin is ready for a real and sustainable ceasefire.
European troops in Ukraine: too soon
Regarding the possible deployment of European troops in Ukraine, Macron did not go into details, saying that “it is too early to talk about specific numbers”.
“We must act in a thoughtful, realistic and balanced way, taking into account all the discussions,” the French leader stressed.
Global challenges and an “exogenous shock” for Europe
Macron also commented on Trump’s statements about the US territorial claims to Greenland, calling it another warning for Europe.
“We need external shocks to force us to act. This is an exogenous shock for Europe,” Macron said.
The French president’s statements once again confirm the shift in emphasis in European security policy. Europe has to rely on its own strength – and this signal from Paris is clear and unambiguous.
