Macron Responds to Trump's Controversial Off-the-Cuff Remark About Putin on a Live Mic
In a significant turn of events, French President Emmanuel Macron and other European leaders visited the White House, presenting a united front in support of Ukraine. The visits came a few days after the Trump-Putin meeting in Anchorage, Alaska.
During the visit, Macron and other leaders expressed skepticism about Russian President Vladimir Putin's intentions regarding peace in Ukraine. This skepticism was sparked by Putin's full-scale invasion over three years ago, which initiated the ongoing conflict.
At a meeting in Washington on August 18, 2025, Macron, alongside President Zelensky and others, pointed out that while Trump was speaking to Putin, Russia was still bombing Ukraine. Macron stressed that actions reveal true intentions and warned about the possibility that Russia might not sincerely want to engage in peace negotiations.
Trump, however, stated that Putin wants the conflict in Ukraine to end. In an impromptu defense summit at the White House, Trump was caught on a hot mic, saying that he believes Russian President Vladimir Putin wants to make a deal for him regarding the war in Ukraine.
In an interview with NBC's Kristen Welker, Macron expressed his reservations, stating that it was "great" hearing Trump express optimism about his ability to broker peace between Moscow and Kyiv. However, he underscored the importance of coordinated sanctions and vigilance, noting the potential for Russia to escalate violence regardless of diplomatic discussions.
This stance reflects Macron’s focus on maintaining pressure on Russia to safeguard Ukraine's vital interests and Europe’s security. The visits to the White House were aimed at reinforcing this message and emphasising the need for a united approach in dealing with the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.
Sources: [1] HuffPost [2] NBC News
Read also:
- Weekly happenings in the German Federal Parliament (Bundestag)
- Southwest region's most popular posts, accompanied by an inquiry:
- Discussion between Putin and Trump in Alaska could potentially overshadow Ukraine's concerns
- Massive 8.8 earthquake hits off the coast of Russia's Kamchatka Peninsula, prompting Japan to issue a tsunami alert.
