US President Donald Trump has expressed his belief that French President Emmanuel Macron and UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer “haven’t done anything” to resolve the ongoing war in Ukraine. This statement comes as both leaders are set to visit the White House next week.
Trump further criticized Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky, asserting that he had “no cards” in peace negotiations, remarking, “I don’t think he’s very important to be in meetings.” Since Russia’s large-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, countries including the UK and France have been providing military support and aid to Ukraine.
European leaders’ response to the conflict
On Monday, European leaders convened for a crisis summit in Paris regarding the situation in Ukraine, just a day before US-Russia talks in Saudi Arabia. There are growing concerns that Ukraine and European nations might be sidelined from crucial peace discussions.
Despite his critical remarks about Macron and Starmer, Trump acknowledged their efforts in an interview with Fox News, referring to Macron as a “friend” and describing the British Prime Minister as a “very nice guy.” Macron is scheduled to arrive in Washington DC on Monday, followed by Sir Keir’s visit on Thursday.
In a recent statement, Sir Keir expressed his willingness to deploy UK troops to Ukraine to bolster its security as part of a prospective peace agreement. The BBC has reached out to the Prime Minister’s office for further comment on this matter.
International sanctions and support for Ukraine
While European leaders have consistently ruled out negotiations with Russia, they have engaged in regular discussions regarding the conflict. Since the invasion, the US, UK, and EU, along with allies such as Australia, Canada, and Japan, have imposed over 20,000 sanctions against Russia. Many European nations have also formalized agreements to support Ukraine.
Earlier this year, Sir Keir solidified a “landmark” pact with Zelensky, assuring him: “We are with you not just today, for this year or the next – but for 100 years – long after this terrible war is over and Ukraine is free and thriving once again.”
Trump’s envoy to Ukraine, Keith Kellogg, reported having “extensive and positive” discussions with Zelensky during their recent meeting in Kyiv, praising him as a “courageous leader,” despite Trump’s earlier labeling of Zelensky as a “dictator.” In recent days, Zelensky has reached out to various global leaders, all of whom have reiterated their commitment to ensuring Ukraine’s participation in peace negotiations.
“I’ve been watching this man for years now as his cities get demolished, as his people get killed, as his soldiers get decimated,” Trump commented, expressing frustration with Zelensky’s perceived ineffectiveness in negotiations.
Continuing his criticism, Trump suggested that Zelensky was responsible for failing to avert the conflict, indicating that Russia could have been “talked out” of invading Ukraine. When questioned about Ukraine’s absence at the peace talks in Saudi Arabia, Trump stated that Russia found it “impossible to make a deal with Zelensky,” but expressed his belief that Russia genuinely desired a resolution.
US Vice-President JD Vance responded to critics of Trump’s stance on Russia, arguing that their approach to ending the conflict should not be labeled as “appeasement.” Vance stated, “We are negotiating to end the conflict. It is ‘appeasement’ only if you think the Ukrainians have a credible pathway to victory. They don’t, so it’s not.”
Meanwhile, discussions between Kyiv and Washington are reportedly progressing towards a deal that would grant the US access to Ukraine’s rare earth mineral deposits as a form of repayment for military aid. Trump indicated that the two nations were “pretty close” to finalizing this agreement, asserting that the US would “get our money back.”
In a video address on Friday, Zelensky confirmed that both Ukrainian and US teams are working on a draft agreement that could enhance bilateral relations, although he emphasized the importance of getting the details right. Previously, Zelensky rejected an initial US proposal, stating he “cannot sell our state.”
White House Security Advisor Mike Waltz expressed confidence that Zelensky would “sign that deal.”