French President Emmanuel Macron has called on Donald Trump and Volodymyr Zelensky to “remain calm and respectful” after their heated confrontations and tense meeting at the White House.
In an interview with the French newspaper, “La Tribune Dimanche”, Macron said that the meeting between the two presidents went badly, but nevertheless, he does not believe that this moment is a signal of hostility.
“I think that, once the nervousness passes, everyone should return to calm, respect and mutual recognition, so that we can move forward concretely, because the issue at hand is extremely important,” Macron said.
Peace between the parties is the mission that Macron says he has set for himself, and that he did so through a phone call on Friday evening after meeting with his Ukrainian counterpart and the American president.
“On these topics, it is better to have a strategic and confidential discussion to move forward and clear up misunderstandings between people,” Macron told La Tribune Dimanche.
During the phone call with Volodymyr Zelensky, the latter reportedly expressed a desire to re-engage in dialogue with Washington, particularly regarding the minerals contract he was supposed to sign in the US.
As “La Tribune Dimanche” writes, Macron is convinced that the United States has no choice but to re-engage in this dialogue.
“The clear destiny of the Americans is to be on the side of the Ukrainians, I have no doubt about that. What the United States has done over the past three years is entirely consistent with its diplomatic and military tradition. I want to make it clear to the Americans that secession from Ukraine is not in their interest,” Macron stressed.
Commenting on Trump’s approach to signing a ceasefire with Vladimir Putin, Macron says that this approach does not respect America’s old values.
“Of course, we all agree to make peace. But there can be no just and lasting peace with the abandonment of Ukraine. If Washington were to agree to sign a ceasefire without any security guarantees for Ukraine, then its geostrategic deterrent capacity in relation to Russia, China and others would disappear on the same day,” he said.
“Donald Trump’s ambitions are the opposite of this,” he adds, because Russia poses more than ever an existential threat to Europe.
“There is an over-armed and aggressive Russia on our borders. It carries out terrorist actions and massive disinformation campaigns here and in Europe. If no one stops it, it will definitely go to Moldova and perhaps further to Romania. It is our security that is at risk,” Macron says.
Despite all the obstacles, the president remains convinced that a path to a lasting and just peace in Ukraine is still possible.
