French President Emmanuel Macron said a ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine could be possible in the coming weeks. He made this statement after meeting with US President Donald Trump in Washington.
Macron urged caution in dealing with Russia, saying past agreements had failed. He pointed to the 2014 ceasefire, which was broken multiple times. He warned that any deal with Russian President Vladimir Putin must include strong security guarantees.
Concerns Over a One-Sided Ceasefire
Trump also said the war could end soon but insisted that Europe should take the lead in securing peace. His recent remarks about Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy raised concerns in Europe. He called Zelenskyy a “dictator,” which upset European leaders. They now worry Ukraine may be forced into an unfair peace deal.
Macron and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said Europe must present a united front in response to the new US administration. Both leaders are open to sending European peacekeeping forces to Ukraine to strengthen Europe’s role in the negotiations.
Trump claimed Putin had agreed to allow European forces in Ukraine. However, Russia’s ambassador to the UK quickly denied this, rejecting any foreign military presence in the region.
US and Ukraine Discuss Security and Resource Agreement
Macron emphasized that peace talks must address security concerns, Ukraine’s borders, and sovereignty. However, Trump did not discuss these points.
Instead, Trump focused on the financial cost of helping Ukraine. He said the US should not be the only country paying for Ukraine’s security.
To address this, Trump invited Zelenskyy to the White House to finalize a $500 billion deal on rare earth minerals. The deal is framed as Ukraine’s way of repaying the US for military aid. Rare earth minerals are crucial for modern technology, and Ukraine has significant reserves.
At first, Zelenskyy refused to discuss the deal. He wanted clear security promises from the US before agreeing to anything. Later, however, he signaled that he was open to talks.
On Sunday, Ukraine’s parliamentary speaker confirmed that the government is working toward an agreement with the US. However, they will only sign if it includes firm security guarantees.
The Future of Ukraine’s Security
The situation remains uncertain as both sides try to reach an agreement. European leaders worry that Ukraine may be pressured into making major concessions. Macron and Starmer are pushing for a strong European response to prevent a one-sided deal.
Meanwhile, Russia has not confirmed any willingness to agree to a ceasefire under these terms. Many fear that without strong security guarantees, history could repeat itself, and the ceasefire could be broken again.
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