Macron and Starmer reportedly influence Trump to alter his views on Putin, according to Politico.
Rewritten Article:
title: Trump's Tougher Stance on Putin: A Result of Diplomatic Efforts by UK and France
subtitle: UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer and French President Emmanuel Macron's persistence seems to pay off in influencing Trump's rhetoric towards Russian leader Vladimir Putin.
Donald Trump's words regarding Vladimir Putin have taken a distinct turn following several months of behind-the-scenes diplomatic efforts led by UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer and French President Emmanuel Macron.
According to a report by Politico, this change in tune was a result of the lengthy coordination between London, Paris, and Washington. Starmer and Macron sought to sway Trump's focus away from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and towards Putin, arguing that Putin was making Trump look foolish for his efforts at negotiation.
"The US president's public dig at Putin gave diplomats in London and Paris the smallest of fist pumps, as their endeavors over the past three months appeared to bear fruit," the report quoted.
UK National Security Advisor Jonathan Powell and Defense Secretary John Healey played pivotal roles in the discussions with the US administration. Their efforts were in sync with Mark Burnett, US Special Envoy to the United Kingdom. Notably, the UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy has held 13 conversations with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio in 2025 alone, while Trump and Starmer have traded barbs "almost" as many times.
One former UK ambassador suggested that Zelenskyy had managed to sway Trump's thinking during their meeting in Rome. Furthermore, the diplomats consistently pointed out that Putin was disrespecting Trump through breaches in agreed-upon ceasefires. Interestingly, this was a sensitive point as Trump is said to be uneasy about violence and death.
"For the moment, Trump seems to have realized that Putin cannot be trusted. It's something that President Macron repeatedly voices, trying to get through to Trump," a French official confirmed.
Nonetheless, British and French officials await anxiously to see if Trump's firmer stance against Putin will survive his impatience to move on swiftly. Analysts like Steven Pfifer from the US-based think tank, Brookings Institution, bring up Trump's past blind-spot for ignoring US requests. However, Pfifer stresses that Trump's recent social media jabs at Putin suggest that he thinks he might be being manipulated.
Sources:
* Politico
Enrichment Insights:
- Diplomatic efforts by UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer and French President Emmanuel Macron centers around convincing Trump that Putin undermines his credibility as a negotiator through ceasefire violations.
- Key channels of communication include direct discussions between Starmer, Trump, and senior members of their respective administrations, as well as coordination between key UK and French diplomats like Jonathan Powell, John Healey, and David Lammy.
- Trump's shift in rhetoric gained momentum during the Rome meeting with Zelenskyy, as he publicly rebuked Putin and privately recognized Putin's possible manipulation.
- Despite Trump's tougher stance, analysts express doubt about its longevity due to Trump's impatience, and British and French officials remain watchful over ensuring alignment in their pressure tactics against Russia.
- The UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer and French President Emmanuel Macron have been working behind the scenes to shift Trump's focus from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to Russian leader Vladimir Putin, as they believe Putin is disrespecting Trump through breaches in ceasefires.
- The UK National Security Advisor Jonathan Powell, Defense Secretary John Healey, and UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy have played significant roles in the diplomatic efforts to influence Trump's policy towards Putin.
- Analysts have noted that Trump's recent social media jabs at Putin suggest that he thinks he might be being manipulated, which could signal a change in Trump's approach to Putin and war-and-conflicts.
- British and French officials, however, remain vigilant, awaiting to see if Trump's firmer stance against Putin will endure, given Trump's history of impatience and his blind-spot for ignoring policy-and-legislation requests.
- Through their diplomatic efforts, the UK and France aim to ease the tension in relations between Trump and Putin, understanding that the health of their countries and the general-news are intertwined with the politics of the international community.
