BBC News
French President Emmanuel Macron is set to meet Donald Trump in Washington later, marking their first one-on-one discussion since the US president returned to the White House.
In a social media Q&A, Macron mentioned that he will advise Trump to avoid showing weakness to Russian President Vladimir Putin. This follows direct talks between the US and Russia for the first time since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
Furthermore, he plans to present European proposals for attaining peace in Ukraine, in response to Trump’s comments that Macron has “done nothing” regarding the situation.
The meeting occurs on the third anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, with other European leaders having visited Kyiv to show support.
On Thursday, Macron told his social media followers that Trump also needs to consider how his behavior towards Putin would be perceived by other global leaders.
“It’s not you, it doesn’t represent your brand, and it’s not in your interest. How can you be credible with China if you’re perceived as weak against Putin?” said Macron.
He intends to persuade Trump that the interests of the US and Europe are aligned, asserting that “if you allow Russia to seize Ukraine, it will be an unstoppable situation.”
He emphasized that any peace agreement must include negotiations with Ukrainians and Europeans present at the table.
Macron’s appeal to Trump’s ego is a strategic decision, as he is acquainted with Trump from his first term, according to Sebastien Maillard from the Chatham House think tank.
“Macron is attempting to appeal to emotions rather than just presenting rational arguments,” Mr. Maillard observed.
Trump wishes to portray himself as a strong leader who secured a quick peace deal; thus, Macron’s tactic is “to show Trump how weak he would appear if he treated Putin too leniently.”
“If he shows Putin too much favor, he will lose respect from China, Iran, and other adversaries.”
‘A final chance mission for Europe’
Overall, Macron’s visit is seen as a blend of time-buying for Europe and a fact-finding mission, as noted by Mr. Maillard.
“This is a last-ditch effort because Europe feels that time is of the essence; they fear decisions may be rushed and poorly made,” remarked Mr. Maillard.
He added that the international community is “perplexed” by the unfolding “new Putin-Trump alliance,” and Macron wants to ascertain the future of NATO.
“This preparation is vital to avoid being blindsided by the next statement or tweet,” Mr. Maillard remarked.
An advisor from Macron’s office indicated that the French president would also utilize the meeting to present “action proposals reflecting the convergences that have emerged,” according to AFP.
EPA
These convergences relate to Washington’s recent policy pivot towards engaging directly with Russia.
Within one month of taking back the White House, Trump had a phone call with Putin and dispatched a group of US representatives to meet with Russian officials in Saudi Arabia.
These discussions led to an agreement to establish teams from both nations to begin negotiations on ending the war.
Additionally, Russia announced it would not accept peacekeeping forces from NATO countries in Ukraine under any peace agreement, a suggestion that was raised just a day earlier during a hastily arranged meeting of European NATO members in Paris organized by Macron.
Macron’s talks with Trump precede UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer’s upcoming visit, scheduled for Thursday.
Similar to Macron, Starmer has faced criticism from Trump for not making enough progress to end the war. The UK leader has also countered Trump’s remarks calling Zelensky a “dictator,” emphasizing that he is Ukraine’s “democratically elected leader.”
Both Macron and Starmer aim to present a united stance to Trump, urging him to involve European leaders in decisions regarding the security of Ukraine and Europe, Mr. Maillard noted.
