President Donald Trump on Monday outlined the stakes in play if a peace deal is not secured in Ukraine, warning that any overspill could trigger World War III.
‘There will be a point where it is not going to stop at those two countries,’ he said.
‘Already there is such involvement from other countries and it could really lead to a very big war, World War III, and we are not gonna let that happen either.’
He made his remarks as President Emmanuel Macron of France became the first European leader to visit the White House, on the day marking the third anniversary of Russian troops marching into Ukraine.
European fears that Trump is trying to railroad them into a deal with Ukrainian support will only have intensified after he outlined progress in his talks with Russian dictator Vladimir Putin.
‘At the same time, I am in serious discussions with President Vladimir Putin of Russia concerning the ending of the War, and also major Economic Development transactions which will take place between the United States and Russia,’ he wrote on Truth Social after joining a G7 conference call with Macron.
‘Talks are proceeding very well!’
It shows how Trump is ready to move on from the war in Ukraine, securing deals with Moscow, at a time when European leaders worry that he is getting too close to Putin.
The distance between leaders was on display as Trump greeted Macron at the White House.
French President Emmanuel Macron met with President Donald Trump in the Oval Office
Macron joined Trump for a G7 conference call on Monday. He posted to Truth Social after
The two had an awkward handshake as Trump greeted Macron
The French president gripped his counterpart’s hand for a full 10 seconds as the two leaders grappled for dominance even as they smiled warmly for the cameras.
But it was a milder version of the famous white knuckler that Macron deployed in 2017, in what he later said was designed to be a ‘moment of truth’ in their relationship.
Later, in the Oval Office, Macron grimaced as Trump incorrectly suggested European assistance to Ukraine was in the form of loans.
‘Europe is willing to step up to be a stronger partner, to do more on defense and security on this continent, as well as to be a reliable partner,’ said Macron.
Trump said Putin will accept European peacekeepers.
‘He has no problem with it,’ he said.
Trump has sent shockwaves through Europe by criticizing the Ukrainian president and claiming that Ukraine started the war rather than Russia.
He added that Zelensky could potentially visit Washington this week or next to sign a deal giving the U.S. access to mineral deposits.
Before his visit, Macron said he would present Trump with arguments that it was not in his interests to bend to Moscow.
Macron was the first foreign leader to meet Trump at the White House in his second term
Macron can be seen perched on the corner of the Resolute Desk for their G7 call
In the Oval Office, he said the U.S. was critical to a lasting peace and said France was willing to underwrite security guarantees to Ukraine, with boots on the ground if necessary.
The two started the day on a conference call with G7 leaders on the day marking the third anniversary of the full Russian invasion of Ukraine.
Macron will be tag teamed by British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who will be at the White House on Thursday.
Starmer previewed his case just ahead of Macron’s arrival, unveiling fresh sanctions on Moscow and saying that Trump had ‘changed the global conversation’ around Ukraine.
‘We must keep dialing up the economic pressure to get Putin to a point where he is ready not just to talk, but to make concessions,’ he said during a remote address to a gathering of Ukraine’s allies.
Aides later clarified that Starmer meant Trump had changed the conversation ‘for the better.’
The U.K. and France represent Europe’s nuclear powers. And their leaders have indicated they are ready to step up assistance to Ukraine, and stand up a European military force to protect a peace deal.
Trump also met the Polish president on the sidelines of a conservative conference on Saturday.
It illustrates the way Trump has at a stroke upended the U.S. position on Ukraine.
French President Emmanuel Macron arrives at the White House on Monday morning
British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer announced fresh sanctions on Moscow
European leaders at a memorial to Ukrainian victims of the Russian invasion on the third anniversary of the start of the war
President Donald Trump has upended the discussion about Russia and Ukraine
Where the Biden administration took pains to isolate Moscow and its autocratic leader Putin, Trump changed direction with a 90-minute phone to the Russian leader earlier this month.
Russian officials say they have already begun preparations for a Trump-Putin summit.
European leaders, closer to the war than Trump, fear that Putin will get whatever he wants if American president pushes through a peace agreement without Ukrainians at the table at every step.
And relations between Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky soured after he rejected a deal that would give Washington access to deposits of rare earth minerals, crucial for the production of mobile phones and new technologies.
On Saturday, Trump said he was confident that the deal would soon be accepted.
The divide between Europe and the U.S. was on stark display at the United Nations on Monday, where diplomats were waiting to vote on two dueling resolutions.
Ukraine’s resolution, backed by Europe, demands the immediate withdrawal of Russian troops from its territory.
A U.S. proposal calls for a swift end to the war but does not mention Russian aggression.
