Macron takes aim: Trump's third world war comments spark European tension
Moscow, not Kyiv, is the aggressor in the ongoing war, emphasized Emmanuel Macron on Friday. The President of France also directly referenced Donald Trump's comments about "gambling with world war three."
Emmanuel Macron on Friday addressed the remarks made by former U.S. President Donald Trump during his talks with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, as well as the entire meeting between the leaders.
In an interview with Portuguese television, he said that a person who is "playing with a third world war" does not need to be "sought in Kyiv, but rather in Moscow." He added that he is ready to "open a discussion" on European nuclear deterrence. French media note that these comments about such a discussion are related to proposals by Friedrich Merz, the leader of Germany's Christian Democratic Union (CDU) and likely the future Chancellor of Germany.
"If colleagues want to move towards greater autonomy and deterrence capability, then we should open this deeply strategic discussion. It has very sensitive and confidential elements, but I am ready for such a discussion to be opened," said Macron.
Dispute between Trump and Zelensky
Earlier on Friday, following a dispute between Trump and Zelensky, Macron in a post on the X platform urged people to respect "those who have fought from the very beginning." He also emphasized that the aggressor in the ongoing war is Russia, and the victim is the Ukrainian people.
During the meeting at the White House between Donald Trump and Volodymyr Zelensky, a heated argument ensued. The previously planned signing of the bilateral U.S.-Ukrainian agreement on mineral deposit exploitation was postponed. Zelensky left the White House, and Trump on social media called on the Ukrainian president to return "when he is ready for peace," accusing him of showing disrespect towards the United States.
