Europe Macron discusses Ukraine with Trump on Monday
French President Emmanuel Macron is traveling to Washington on Monday to discuss Ukraine with US President Donald Trump. This was announced by the French Foreign Ministry. "The president has spoken several times with the American president. He will be in Washington on Monday," it said. Details of Macron's trip to the USA will be announced later.
20.02.2025, 20:09
SDA
In view of Trump's unilateral approach to a possible peace solution for Ukraine, Macron called European heads of state and government to Paris on Monday for crisis consultations and then spoke to Trump on the phone. One of the issues discussed at the meeting was the question of European peacekeeping troops to secure a possible ceasefire.
France and the UK discuss peacekeeping forces
Like Macron, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer also wants to travel to Washington next week to meet US President Donald Trump, but possibly not on the same day as Macron. According to media reports, Starmer's aim could be to present the concept for a peacekeeping force.
The "Times" and "Guardian" newspapers reported that the UK and France are pressing ahead with discussions about a European force to secure a peace agreement in Ukraine. Such a force could comprise fewer than 30,000 soldiers, the newspapers wrote, citing military circles.
Security guarantees and troops under discussion
"We must succeed in establishing a system that guarantees the security of Ukraine," explained the Paris Foreign Ministry. "This could possibly be done by sending troops, but that is not the issue at the moment".
The first priority is to obtain a scheme for security guarantees. These could also consist of rearming and re-equipping the Ukrainian army. It could also be about Ukraine's membership of NATO. Macron emphasized earlier this week that it was not about sending belligerent troops to Ukraine, according to the ministry.
