fActively at the collapsed transatlantic alliance, European leaders, surprised this week, began diplomatic efforts to save what remains, attempting to bring Donald Trump back from the brink of Ukraine. On February 24th, French President Emmanuel Macron was due for his own visit by British Prime Minister Ir Kiel Starmer. Macron spent three hours with the US president before claiming that the consultations had brought about “substantial measures.”
The starting point for the two presidents is rarely different. Macron, along with fellow European leaders, considers the security of Ukraine to be paramount in the face of Russian expansionism. The French president said he was standing in the White House with his American host, “it should not mean Ukraine’s surrender.” On his side, Trump was called “dictator” Volodymyr Zelensky, the president of Ukraine, and last week he met in person with a Russian who separated from the Europeans. Sitting by the French president, Trump pointed out that he would call Vladimir Putin a dictator, saying, “I don’t use those words lightly.”
Macron seemed cautiously cheerful about his visit to the White House. One reason is that in his narrative, Trump agreed to some form of American “support” on the future deployment of European troops to maintain peace in Ukraine. It was vague what exactly this might mean. But Macron called it a “turning point.” Trump did not modify the guests.
For weeks, France and the UK have been discussing how to form a coalition of European and coalition peacekeeping forces that can be sent in the event of an acceptable peace agreement in Ukraine. This would form part of European security guarantees against future Russian attacks, but could only be relied on the support of the US military and intelligence news. Perhaps this is something Trump might reflect on. Especially when he is tied up with a critical deal that he hopes to attack with Ukraine.
The second reason is that Trump suggests that Putin will not oppose Ukrainian European peacekeeping forces, contrary to his public comments. “He will accept that. The US president said before speaking with Macron. The French president emphasized that European troops will not be sent to the front line and not directly into combat. Such a force is necessary to provide Ukraine with “security” and to ensure that “peace is respected.” It is part of Europe’s efforts to spend more to protect themselves.
It is too early to determine whether the small advances Macron claims to have made proven meaningful. Trump’s words are worth it, but worth it. At a press conference with Macron, the US president spoke about relative restraints that complemented his French counterparts. Macron thanked his host and made sure to flatten it. However, on the same day, to the surprise of its allies, the United States voted with Russia against a UN resolution condemning Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
As Europeans rush to respond to the suppression of postwar security orders on the continent, they seem to finally take the gravity of the situation seriously. Previously partially with unilateral diplomacy, Macron spoke with 30 European and Alliance leaders before visiting Washington, and has worked closely with security plans with the UK. “Even if the idea of American support for European peacekeeping forces is implicit,” said Mujitaba Rahman, managing director of Europe at Eurasia Group, a risk consultant. “Starmer’s visit will be the next test of whether there is anything more than Talk. ■
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