French President Emmanuel Macron said US President Donald Trump initially believed Ukraine would lose the war against Russia and sought a rapid peace deal.
In an interview with France TV, the French president said Trump entered office convinced that Kyiv was on the verge of collapse and that a quick settlement would be necessary.
JOIN US ON TELEGRAM
Follow our coverage of the war on the @Kyivpost_official.
“What he saw, when he arrived, was that Ukraine would lose. That’s why he wanted to conclude a quick peace,” Macron said.
He also referenced tensions between Trump and President Volodymyr Zelensky in the Oval Office.
“Remember, January-February 2025, it seemed like an eternity. He thought that Ukraine was going to lose. Things were going badly in the Oval office with the President Zelensky,” Macron said.
He further revealed that less than a year ago, during a summit between Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin in Anchorage, an agreement was nearly put forward that would have involved ceding Ukrainian territory not yet captured by Russian forces.
According to Macron, European leaders later traveled to Washington to argue against such proposals and stress that forcing territorial concessions on Kyiv was unacceptable.
“We went as a delegation to Washington in the middle of August to say it is not possible. We’re trying, and from there, a huge amount of ground has been covered.”
Macron credited Ukraine itself for changing perceptions in Washington.
Russia Strikes Kharkiv With Guided Aerial Bombs
“This path is first and foremost a victory for the Ukrainians in capability and credibility,” he said.
According to Macron, Trump has since recognized that earlier predictions about Ukraine’s collapse were wrong.
“He saw that everything he was told – that they were going to collapse, that they would not make it through the winter – was false,” Macron said.
He added that Trump now sees Ukrainians as “courageous and innovative people” whom he respects.
Recently, Zelensky said he held a high-level coordination call with Trump and Macron after the conclusion of the G7 Summit.
Calling it an “important coordination conversation that could change a lot,” Zelensky said the leaders reviewed the summit talks and discussed next steps to strengthen Ukraine, expand cooperation, and advance diplomatic efforts toward peace.
Zelensky thanked Trump for his attention to Ukraine and willingness to help bring peace closer, while also praising Macron for organizing the summit and maintaining strong cooperation with Kyiv.
“We are working to strengthen Ukraine, our cooperation, and diplomatic prospects,” Zelensky wrote on X.
Zelensky met Trump on the sidelines of the summit on Monday, where he pushed for additional air defense support and increased pressure on Russia.
You can also highlight the text and press Ctrl + Enter
