Macron backs Ukraine, warns against bypassing Kyiv in talks
In Europe, concerns are growing about the outcomes of potential talks between representatives of Russia and the USA. French President Emmanuel Macron emphasized that negotiations regarding Ukraine's future can only be conducted by the Ukrainians themselves. Macron assured that Kyiv can count on Paris's support.
On Friday, Emmanuel Macron had a phone conversation with Volodymyr Zelensky. "If President Donald Trump can truly convince President Putin to stop the aggression against Ukraine, that is great news," he wrote in a subsequently published social media post.
In the following sentence, he added that "Ukrainians alone can drive the discussions for a solid and lasting peace. We will help them in this endeavor," emphasized Macron.
The politician assessed that Europe will need to become more independent. "France will fully play its role in accelerating this process," he assured, adding that "Europeans, will need to strengthen our collective security and become more autonomous."
Trump prepares for talks with Putin
Concerns that talks on ending the war could take place without the Ukrainians' involvement emerged after comments from Donald Trump, who, following a phone conversation with Vladimir Putin, announced that he ordered the "immediate" start of negotiations, surprising the authorities in Kyiv.
Meanwhile, the head of the Pentagon, Pete Hegseth, stated that Ukraine's membership in NATO is "unrealistic" – just as much as a return to the 2014 borders. Nonetheless, Ukrainians still hope for an invitation to the Alliance. Similarly, they hope to regain all lost territories, including Crimea.
