Following a crucial White House meeting, French President Emmanuel Macron and US President Donald Trump signaled progress on Ukraine peace talks—but Macron warned against any resolution that forces Ukraine into surrender.
Washington DC [US], February 25: French President Emmanuel Macron emphasized that peace cannot come at the cost of Ukraine’s sovereignty, following a high-stakes meeting with US President Donald Trump at the White House on Monday, CNN reported.
“This peace must not mean a surrender of Ukraine. It must not mean a ceasefire without guarantees,” Macron stated during a joint press conference with Trump. “This peace must allow for Ukrainian sovereignty and allow Ukraine to negotiate with other stakeholders.”
Macron commended Trump’s efforts to engage with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, particularly on a US-Ukraine agreement on rare earths and critical minerals, which he described as a “major commitment to Ukraine’s sovereignty.”
Macron added, “After speaking with President Trump, I fully believe there is a path forward,” expressing confidence in their shared vision for a lasting peace.
Trump Hints at Meeting with Zelenskyy
During the discussions, Trump revealed that Zelenskyy could visit Washington within the next week to finalize the US-Ukraine rare earths minerals deal.
“I will be meeting with President Zelenskyy. In fact, he may come in this week or next week to sign the agreement… We’d meet at the Oval Office,” Trump stated. He added that negotiations were nearing completion, calling the agreement a crucial step in Ukraine’s reconstruction efforts.
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, who was present at the meeting, confirmed that the agreement is at the “one-yard line,” indicating that final details were being ironed out.
Trump Open to Economic Ties with Russia
Addressing relations with Russia, Trump said he would be open to economic cooperation with Moscow, but emphasized that his first priority remains ending the war in Ukraine.
When asked about his recent Truth Social post, in which he mentioned “serious discussions with Putin on ending the war and economic development between the US and Russia,” Trump elaborated on the possibility of trade cooperation.
“They have massive rare earth deposits… and we have things they could use. It would be very good for world peace and lasting peace,” Trump remarked.
Zelenskyy and EU Leaders Mark War Anniversary
As US-Ukraine talks continue, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy took to X (formerly Twitter) to praise the heroism of Ukrainian soldiers and citizens fighting in the ongoing war.
Meanwhile, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen visited Kyiv to mark the third anniversary of Russia’s invasion, reaffirming the EU’s commitment to supporting Ukraine against Russian aggression.
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Ukraine peace talks, Trump-Macron meeting, Ukraine sovereignty, Russia-Ukraine war, Zelenskyy Washington visit, rare earths deal, US foreign policy, NATO, European Union, global diplomacy