Trump-Macron Meeting: Key Takeaways

President Donald Trump received a visit from his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron on Monday, which also marks the third anniversary of the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

Peace negotiations are gaining momentum, thanks to the ramped up pressure from the Trump White House.

But last week, Ukraine’s Volodymyr Zelenskyy and many European leaders called out Trump after not being invited to the table during his conversations with Russia.

This week starts off with a slight change in tune, as Moscow and Kyiv are willing to offer Trump concessions in exchange for a ceasefire agreement. America’s European allies are also rushing to the table with their own promises to protect Ukraine.

Trump and Macron participated in a two-hour-long virtual meeting with leaders of the Group of Seven, or G7, convened by Canadian President Justin Trudeau, to acknowledge the third year of the war in Eastern Europe. Ukraine was also on the call. Later, Trump and Macron held a bilateral meeting, followed by a joint press conference.

“It’s time to end this bloodletting and restore peace,” Trump said at the press conference. “Our focus is on achieving a ceasefire and a lasting peace.”

Trump maintained that he wanted the conflict to end while Macron firmly advocated for Ukraine’s benefit, questioning whether Europe would be able to guarantee its own security if it can’t help Kyiv, which is a stone’s throw away geographically.

Ceasefire negotiations: What did Trump and Macron talk about?

During the press conference, Trump told reporters there’s a possibility Europe will send peacekeeper troops to Ukraine to ensure both Kyiv and Moscow comply with any ceasefire agreement. Russian President Vladimir Putin is open to these terms, Trump added.

Trump also said the U.S. is very close to striking a deal with Ukraine to attain partial ownership of their critical minerals.

“This deal, which is an ‘Economic Partnership,’ will ensure the American people recoup the Tens of Billions of Dollars and Military Equipment sent to Ukraine, while also helping Ukraine’s economy grow as this Brutal and Savage War comes to an end,” Trump wrote on Truth Social.

The proposed “Critical Minerals and Rare-Earths Deal” will include money for a reconstruction fund and security guarantees for Kyiv, which is also hoping to hold onto the Ukrainian territory currently occupied by Russia.

Trump said he is also in talks with Putin and hopes to strike another deal that will benefit the U.S.

This move is a part of a larger shift by Trump, compared to the norm set by the Biden administration over the last three years that focused on isolating Russia.

But Trump has been more undiplomatic with his allies. Last week, he accused Macron and U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer of not doing anything in the last few years to stop the war. He also called Zelenskyy a “dictator.”

After the call, Macron said he attempted to remind Trump to not give in to the Russian president’s demands.

“Trump, I know him. I respect him and I believe he respects me,” Macron said Thursday, as Fox News reported. “I will tell him: deep down you cannot be weak in the face of President (Vladimir Putin). It’s not you, it’s not what you’re made of, and it’s not in your interests.” He advised against allowing Russia to “take over Ukraine.”

Last week, Macron invited other European leaders to Paris a day before Russian and American officials were scheduled to meet in Saudi Arabia to formally start negotiation talks.

Trump said Zelenskyy may come “this week or next week” to sign the agreement at a joint press conference. It seems the U.S. commander in chief is willing to sit with both sides. Trump spoke to Putin on the phone earlier in February.

Here’s where things stand now

• Both parties say they want long-lasting peace.

• Ukraine is asking for security guarantees to be able to negotiate from a place of strength. Macron told reporters Monday, “We do share the objective of peace but we are very aware of the necessity to have guarantees and a solid peace in order to stabilize the situation.”

• Russia demands the right to the Ukrainian territories in exchange for peace — an idea that neither Ukraine nor its European backers are open to, but the Trump administration says Kyiv will have to make these concessions. Trump said Monday he hoped Ukraine would be able to “take back the land that they lost.”

• Russia also asked for NATO to reject Ukraine’s application for membership. On Sunday, Zelenskyy said for the first time that he is willing to resign in exchange for a peace deal that includes membership in NATO, making this a point of contention.

• Ukraine is asking for security guarantees to prevent another invasion by Russia.

Even though the Trump White House hoped to find a solution on Day 1, peace continue to take shape.