In a recent statement, French President Emmanuel Macron appealed to U.S. President Donald Trump to utilize his significant influence to foster peace in both Ukraine and the Middle East. This call to action came during Macron’s visit to Greenland, where he emphasized the United States’ crucial role in mitigating two major international conflicts.
U.S. sanctions and diplomatic pressure
Macron highlighted the necessity for stronger sanctions against Russia as a means to address the ongoing crisis in Ukraine. He stressed that discussions among G7 leaders, which commenced on Sunday in Canada, should prioritize achieving a swift ceasefire. “From my point of view, it’s a question of knowing whether President Trump is ready to put forward much stronger sanctions against Russia if Moscow doesn’t respect a U.S.-proposed ceasefire,” he declared during a press conference alongside Danish Prime Minister Mette Fredriksen and Greenland Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen.
Addressing tensions between Israel and Iran
Furthermore, Macron pointed out that Trump could be instrumental in de-escalating the rising tensions between Israel and Iran. “The United States of America has a real ability to bring everyone back to the table,” he asserted, underscoring the influence of American military support to Israel in the negotiation process.
The recent escalation of violence began when Israel launched a strike targeting Iran’s nuclear program and military leadership, citing concerns over Iran’s potential development of a nuclear weapon. In retaliation, Iran fired missiles that struck Israeli territory, prompting further exchanges of attacks. Reports from the Iranian ambassador to the United Nations indicated that 78 individuals were killed and over 320 injured in the latest wave of confrontations, while Israeli health authorities reported fatalities and injuries on their side as well.
This surge in hostilities has cast doubt on Trump’s efforts to negotiate a new nuclear agreement with Iran. Compounding the situation, Oman’s Foreign Minister Badr Albusaidi announced that planned discussions between the U.S. and Israel in Oman would no longer take place as scheduled.