French President Emmanuel Macron exhibited a stern demeanor during his discussion with U.S. President Donald Trump in Alaska.
In an online conversation before U.S. President Donald Trump's scheduled meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin, European leaders emphasised the importance of a cessation of hostilities as a prerequisite for any discussions.
The conversation, reported by Axios, included French President Emmanuel Macron, who took a "very tough" stance, and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, who raised several relevant issues. No specific details about Meloni's issues were provided.
According to a source, Macron told Trump that the meeting with Putin is a "very big concession" to the Russian leader. The European leaders supported a plan for a series of diplomatic meetings, starting with a bilateral meeting between President Volodymyr Zelenskyy of Ukraine and President Putin. This would be followed by a trilateral meeting including Trump, and thereafter a broader meeting involving Europeans and Turks, who have direct security interests in the conflict.
All parties agreed that if Putin rejects the process, stronger sanctions and increased pressure should be applied to bring Russia back to negotiations. This stance reflects a unified position between Ukraine, Europe, and the U.S. on security guarantees and coordinated diplomatic efforts to resolve the conflict.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte were also reported to be "very active" during the conversation. The meeting between Trump and Putin was scheduled to take place on August 15.
The European leaders welcomed Trump's belief that peace agreements were possible and Putin's willingness to negotiate. However, they emphasised that any talks must not occur "while bombs are falling". The leaders' unified stance underscores the international community's commitment to finding a peaceful resolution to the ongoing conflict.
[1] Source: Reuters
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