Macron calls out Moscow, criticizes Trump's war remarks
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 remarks about "gambling with world war three."
Emmanuel Macron addressed the comments 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, Macron stated that a person who is "playing with a third world war" should not 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 this comment is related to proposals by Friedrich Merz, the leader of Germany's Christian Democratic Union (CDU) and the likely 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 disagreement between Trump and Zelensky, Macron posted on the X platform urging respect for "those who have fought from the very beginning." He also emphasized that Russia is the aggressor in the ongoing war, and the Ukrainian people are the victims.
During the meeting at the White House between Trump and Zelensky, a heated argument unfolded. 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 toward the United States.
