Source: Macron on social media X
Details: Following an emergency summit with EU leaders, French President Emmanuel Macron held discussions with US President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
The French leader emphasized that achieving lasting peace requires not only a ceasefire but also the establishment of reliable security guarantee mechanisms for Ukraine.
Macron pointed out that without such guarantees, any ceasefire agreement could be as ineffective as the Minsk agreements, which failed to prevent the escalation of the conflict.
Direct quote: "We will work on this together with all Europeans, Americans, and Ukrainians. This is a key point.
We are convinced that Europeans must invest better, more, and together in their security and defense – both now and in the future."
Details: Additionally, the French president highlighted the need to strengthen European defense and accelerate the implementation of the EU's sovereignty and security strategy, outlined at the Versailles summit in 2022. He stated that the European Commission will continue its efforts to support Ukraine and invest in European defense.
Background:
- Macron called for the emergency summit after US President Donald Trump's special envoy to Ukraine, Keith Kellogg, surprised Europe by stating that it would not have a place at the negotiating table for the resolution of the Russian-Ukrainian war.
- Earlier, the summit called by Macron was announced by Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski. He expressed the expectation that European leaders would discuss the issues created by US President Donald Trump "very seriously."
- The French Minister for Overseas Territories, Manuel Valls, stated that the turning point in relations with the US forces Europe to defend Ukraine and increase its defense spending more than ever before.