Trump's surprise move: Talks with Putin without Ukraine?
In Europe, concerns are growing about the potential outcomes of talks between representatives of Russia and the USA. French President Emmanuel Macron emphasized that negotiations about Ukraine's future can only be conducted by Ukrainians themselves. Macron assured that Kyiv can count on the support of Paris.
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 later post on social media.
He added in the next sentence that "Ukrainians alone can drive the discussions for a solid and lasting peace. We will help them in this endeavor," Macron emphasized.
The politician assessed that Europe will have 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 discussions regarding the conditions for ending the war would take place without Ukrainian involvement arose, among other reasons, after Donald Trump's statement. Following a phone conversation with Vladimir Putin, he announced that he had 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 like a return to the borders of 2014. Despite this, Ukrainians continue to hope for an invitation to the Alliance, as well as the hope to regain all lost territories, including Crimea.
