Macron Says Ukraine’s Future ‘Cannot be Decided Without Ukrainians’

French President Emmanuel Macron warned Saturday that no peace deal can be struck over Ukraine without Kyiv’s consent, joining President Volodymyr Zelensky in urging allies to stand firm ahead of an Aug. 15 US-Russia summit that could help shape the war’s endgame.

“The future of Ukraine cannot be decided without Ukrainians,” Macron wrote on X, after speaking with his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelensky on Saturday, adding that he also spoke with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer. “Europeans will also necessarily be part of the solution because their security is at stake.”

“I spoke with President of France @EmmanuelMacron. I am grateful for the support. We exchanged views on the diplomatic situation,” Zelensky said on X, adding “it is truly important that the Russians do not succeed in deceiving anyone again.”

Zelensky urged allies to take “clear steps” in ending Moscow’s invasion during a telephone call with Starmer on Saturday after Russia and the US agreed on a summit.

“Clear steps are needed, as well as maximum coordination between us and our partners. We value the determination of the United Kingdom, the United States, and all our partners to end the war,” he said.

US President Donald Trump said Friday he would meet his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin in one week in Alaska, and suggested that an eventual deal between Moscow and Kyiv to end the war in Ukraine could involve swapping territory.

Other Topics of Interest

The Illusion of a Peace Deal for Ukraine

Anyone who believes Russia is serious about negotiating a peace deal with Ukraine need only look at what Moscow says to be disabused. For those who consider Zelensky to be the one who is obstreperously rejecting reasonable compromises, let them lay out a point-by-point plan of what they and Russia see as the path towards ending this war. I’ll wager nobody can.