President Donald Trump has issued a grave warning to Europe about the potential for World War Three in response to developments in the Russian-Ukraine peace negotiations after holding what he described as “productive” discussions with Emmanuel Macron.
The Republican leader engaged in a tense, 10-second handshake with the French President outside the White House, underscoring the uncertainties surrounding the future of transatlantic relations.
President Macron of France made history by being the first European head of state to visit the White House following Trump’s re-election, coincidentally on the third anniversary of Russia’s illegal incursion into Ukraine.
Speaking at a news conference with “friend” Macron, Trump repeated that the war in Ukraine would “never have happened if I was President”.
But he also made a stern warning that any overspill could have a devastating outcome if a peace deal isn’t secured.
He said: “There will be a point where it is not going to stop at those two countries.
“Already there is such involvement from other countries and it could really lead to a very big war, World War III, and we are not gonna let that happen either.”
Trump added: “It’s time to restore peace and I think we’re going to do it.
“We have had some great conversations, including with Russia.”
The Republican said the focus is now “achieving a ceasefire as soon as possible, and ultimately a permanent peace”.
He also turned to the funding of the war, arguing that the “cost and burden” is not to come just from the US.
Trump said: “I’m also pleased that Macron agrees that the cost and burden of securing the peace must be borne by the nations of Europe, not alone by the US, and Europe must take that central role in ensuring long-term security of Ukraine, which they want to do.”
He added that the US has handed over more aid to Ukraine than any other nation – with a “big difference” between the total spent by Europe and America.
Trump also believes that Russia is going “all-out” to make sure the war ends and said Putin “has no problem” with European peacekeepers.
Meanwhile Macron echoed Trump’s words of the talks marking “substantive steps” – but made it clear that Ukraine’s future should be prioritised and that the US and Europe need to “shoulder” responsibilities.
He said: “This peace must not mean a surrender of Ukraine or a ceasefire without guarantees, it must allow for Ukrainian sovereignty and allow Ukraine to negotiate with other stakeholders regarding the issues that affect it.
“It is also a country in which we need to shoulder our responsibilities so that we ensure security and stability for Ukraine and for the entire region.
“For Europeans this is an existential issue.”
And on the prospect of European troops being used as peacemakers in Ukraine, Macron clarified that troops “would not be on the front line, but mark a presence in Ukraine as a guarantee”.
The French leader grimaced after Trump incorrectly suggested European assistance to Ukraine would be in the form of loans.
Macron said: “Europe is willing to step up to be a stronger partner, to do more on defence and security on this continent, as well as to be a reliable partner.”
He added that there is “good reason” to re-engage with Putin, but “being strong and having deterrence capabilities is the only way” to ensure an agreement is “respected”.
Macron said that his aim is to “try to get something first which can be assessed, checked and verified” and “ensure that we build sufficient guarantees in the short-run”.
The French president added: “This is where we are ready to be engaged.
“A lot of my European colleagues are ready to be engaged.
Wrong, Donald
The Sun Says…
DONALD Trump’s smearing of the Ukraine regime as scam artists who provoked a war using US taxpayers’ money is a rant beneath the dignity of his office.
Almost nothing in it is true.
It reads like a post on a forum for conspiracy theorists. It is an unprecedentedly shocking statement from the President of the United States.
Vladimir Putin has made no secret of his imperialist ambitions, nor his denial of his neighbour’s right to exist as a sovereign, free country.
He invaded Ukraine, butchered and raped its people, stole its children and bombed its cities.
President Zelensky — far from duping anyone or inviting the conflict, far from being a “dictator without elections” — has been a heroic wartime leader who needs Western aid to overcome staggering odds.
The idea he is riding a “gravy train” is laughable. And his people, with whom he remains highly popular whatever Trump claims, have resisted conquest with immense bravery.
It is troubling and short-sighted in the extreme for the so-called leader of the free world to have no interest in a war raging in Europe because he is separated from it by the Atlantic.
America is not a business where Trump, as CEO, has no task except to slash costs and maximise profits. It is the most powerful democracy on Earth with global responsibilities and — let’s be frank — a duty to discern right from wrong with absolute moral clarity.
Others in the White House should urgently point this out.
“We do need this American back-up because this is part of the credibility of the security guarantees and this is our collective deterrence capacity.”
As the two leaders have been speaking, Putin said Russia is prepared to discuss the possibility of cutting defence budgets with the US.
He proposed cutting spending by 50 per cent – adding that it would be a “good idea”.
Mad Vlad also discussed the war in Ukraine and said Trump looks to improve the “political situation,” but added that the attempt benefits Ukraine more than it does Russia.
He also slammed current European leaders, saying they are “committed to the Kyiv regime” and cannot “shift” away from this without receiving backlash.
Putin also blamed Zelensky for “preventing” peace in Ukraine which the US looks to achieve “as quickly as possible”.
He added that the Ukrainian president had “driven himself into a dead end by banning himself from negotiations with Russia”.
Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Zelensky has said they “hope that we can finish this war this year”.
Zelensky was speaking at a summit of European leaders, as well as Canadian PM Justin Trudeau, who were in Kyiv to show their support on the third anniversary of the illegal invasion.
Speaking at a news conference, the Ukrainian President added that the war had been “very difficult” on the nation and warned that Ukraine needed security guarantees to prevent Moscow returning.
He suggested that an EU and Nato membership would aid this fear.
Prior to the news conference, Trump said Russian leader Vladimir Putin would accept European peacekeepers in Ukraine as part of a potential deal to end Russia’s war there – and that the war could “end within weeks”.
“Yeah, he will accept it,” Trump said. “I have asked him that question. Look, if we do this deal, he’s not looking for World War.”
Trump described the highly anticipated revenue-sharing agreement with Ukraine as “very close” in answering questions from reporters as he and Macron met were pictured laughing in the Oval Office.
“It looks like we’re getting very close,” Trump told reporters at the start of his bilateral meeting with Macron.
He added that Volodymyr Zelensky could potentially visit Washington this week or next to sign the deal.
Trump, however, did not say whether the emerging deal would include American security guarantees.
“Europe is going to make sure nothing happens,” he said.
Upon being asked whether Ukraine should give up territory as part of an agreement, Trump vaguely replied: “We’ll see.
“It’s a negotiation that’s just starting.”
The Republican also refused to call his pal Putin a dictator, having previously used the word to describe Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky.
He said: “I don’t use those words lightly, we’ll see how it all works out.”
The pair had started the day participating in a virtual meeting with other leaders of the Group of Seven economies – holding crunch talks about the war.
The US President took to his social media platform Truth Social to share how the talks went – adding his conventional brag that the war “would have never started if I was President”.
He said in the post: “Today, President Emmanuel Macron of France joined me in the Oval Office to speak to the G7 Summit.
“The meeting was convened by Governor Justin Trudeau of Canada, the current chair of G7, to acknowledge the Third Anniversary of the Russia-Ukraine War – Which would have never started if I was President.
“Everyone expressed their goal of seeing the War end, and I emphasized the importance of the vital ‘Critical Minerals and Rare-Earths Deal’ between the United States and Ukraine, which we hope will be signed very soon!
“This deal, which is an ‘Economic Partnership,’ will ensure the American people recoup the Tens of Billions of Dollars and Military Equipment sent to Ukraine, while also helping Ukraine’s economy grow as this Brutal and Savage War comes to an end.”
The President added that, at the same time, he is in “serious discussions” with Vladimir Putin regarding the ending of the war, as well as “major Economic Development transactions” that will take place between the two countries.
He finished the post: “Talks are proceeding very well!”
The US failed on Monday to get the UN General Assembly to approve its resolution seeking to end the war – without mentioning Russian aggression.
The draft resolution was amended after European nations said that it should be made clear that Russia invaded the country in violation of the UN Charter.
The vote in the 193-nation world body on the amended US resolution was 93-8 with 73 abstentions
Ukraine voted yes, the US abstained and Russia voted no.
It comes after Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and Macron agreed to both discuss showing “united leadership in support of Ukraine”.
Both Starmer and Macron went over Russia’s “barbaric full-scale invasion” and there were reportedly talks of placing Ukraine in the centre of negotiations.
Starmer shared his commitment to support Ukraine and it was said the UK and Europe must be united against “Russian aggression.”
A press release posted on Gov.uk revealed more discussions in the US would take place within the coming week.
A Downing Street spokesperson said: “The Prime Minister spoke with President Macron this afternoon.
“They began by discussing the third anniversary of Russia’s barbaric full-scale invasion of Ukraine, which is a stark reminder that we must all work together to put Ukraine in the strongest possible position at this crucial moment for global security.
Who could replace Zelensky?
Names have begun to emerge as to who could replace Zelensky if he were to resign.
Valery Zaluzhny – The Iron General
Zaluzhny led the defence of Kyiv at the start of the war when Russia sent its special forces to their death at Hostomel Airport. Russia then tried to take Kyiv from the north by sending an Army from Belarus.
But the Iron General Zeluzhny is known for thinking outside of the box and has built a cult status in Ukraine.
He is currently the country’s ambassador to London.
Vitali Klitschko – The Champion Boxer
Klitschko is currently mayor of Kyiv and, standing at 6ft 7in, the former world boxing champion would be a heavyweight contender.
The boxer has led the city through daily bombardments by Russian drones and has become a powerful symbol of the city’s defence joining the territorial defence forces.
Like Zelensky, Klitschko would be a strong pro-European leader that Vladimir Putin would hate.
Viktor Medvedchuk – Putin’s Man
Ukrainian oligarch Medvedchuk is the godfather to Putin’s youngest daughter.
He was an important interlocutor between Moscow and Kyiv and backs a pro-Russian political party with several television stations he owns.
In 2021, he was arrested on suspicion of supporting Russian separatists – with the oligarch denying any wrongdoing.
The move is said to have infuriated Putin and was seen as one of the possible reasons he launched his invasion.
“The Prime Minister repeated the UK’s steadfast commitment to support Ukraine for as long as needed and reiterated the importance of Ukraine being at the centre of any negotiations to end the conflict.”
Europe and the UK were said to be looking to scale up to meet security needs, exhibiting further support for Ukraine.
The spokesperson continued: “The UK and Europe must continue stepping up to meet their security needs and show united leadership in support of Ukraine in the face of Russian aggression, which they would both discuss in the US in the coming week.
“The leaders agreed to stay in close contact.”
This comes as Volodymyr Zelensky vows to step down as Ukraine’s president in exchange for peace or NATO membership.
Trump is holding peace talks without including Kyiv in discussions, and the Ukrainian leader has responded by offering to leave his position if necessary.
The shock remarks were made at a press conference this weekend as he emphasised that Ukraine’s security was his priority.
Zelensky said on Sunday: “If it’s about peace in Ukraine and you really want me to leave my position, I am ready to do that [in exchange for peace].
“Secondly I can exchange it for NATO [membership].
“If there is such an opportunity I’ll do it immediately without a long conversation about it.”
