Trump says Putin wants to 'make a deal', Macron warns peace should not mean Ukraine surrendering

Trump believes Vladimir Putin “wants to end” the war in Ukraine. “I may be wrong, but I believe he wants to make a deal,” the US President said during a joint press conference with Emmanuel Macron. The French leader stressed that “peace should not mean a surrender of Ukraine.”

"A lot of good things are happening in the peace process [in Ukraine]," the US President said on Monday during a press conference at the White House, adding that "it is time to end this bloodshed and restore peace . " Speaking alongside French President Emmanuel Macron, who is on an official visit to Washington, Donald Trump said he would not "allow a third world war."

Trump insisted that the war "would never have happened" if he had been president three years ago, when Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine began, and said that US officials had held "successful" talks with the Russian delegation during meetings in Saudi Arabia last week.

"Our focus is on achieving a ceasefire as quickly as possible and a lasting peace," said the President of the United States, confessing that he believes that the French leader agrees with him on "many of the most important issues." The situation is "horrible" and "could develop into a third world war," but "we will not let that happen," Donald Trump stressed.

The US president said he was pleased that Emmanuel Macron agreed that "the burden of ensuring peace should be borne by European nations and not just the United States". Europe "must take on this central role to ensure long-term security" on the continent, Donald Trump stressed, while saying that the United States deserves to recover "the colossal amounts" of money it sent to Ukraine. "That is why we need to have an agreement with Ukraine on critical minerals and rare earths", he said.

Asked about Russia's position, Trump said Vladimir Putin "wants to end this war," that it would be "beneficial" for Moscow to make a deal and that he believed Putin "wants to make a deal." "I could be wrong, but I believe he wants to make a deal," Trump said.

Emmanuel Macron said the United States and France had taken "very substantial steps" during talks between the two leaders in the US capital today. Macron recalled that Ukraine has fought for its independence and sovereignty over the past three years, but also for "our collective security".

After mentioning that he had spoken to around 30 European leaders in recent days, the French President stressed that "peace must not represent a surrender of Ukraine", "it must not mean a ceasefire without guarantees". Macron added that it was necessary to assume responsibilities to "guarantee security and stability for Ukraine and the entire region".

Regarding the sending of military forces to ensure peace and security on Ukrainian soil, Emmanuel Macron revealed that he had spoken with the leader of the UK government, Steir Kramer, and that other countries are ready to join this effort, but added: “the solidarity and support of the US will be crucial for this”.

Macron said he believed that France and the US have “the same desire: a lasting and solid peace as quickly as possible and the restoration of an international situation in which we are all able to assume our responsibilities.” The French leader stressed: “Europeans are ready to do even more and go even further.”