French President urges unity in standing up to Russia, asserting that the destinies of Europe cannot be determined by Putin and Trump.

Emmanuel Macron stated that the fate of Europe should not be determined by Donald Trump or Vladimir Putin. He hinted at the possibility of France utilizing its nuclear weapons as a safeguard for the continent.

Macron also proposed the idea of deploying European soldiers to Ukraine to ensure compliance with a peace agreement in light of Trump’s disruption of the transatlantic partnership.

During a national speech, Macron expressed concerns about the commencement of a new chapter and emphasized the need for a cohesive stance against Russia.

It comes as Trump began his second stint in the White House by reversing US policy on Ukraine and risking a historic rupture with Europe.

Talks soured between the US president and Zelensky soured on Friday after the two leaders locked horns in dramatic scenes in the Oval Office. 

As revealed by the Mail, Washington has since cut off intelligence sharing with Kyiv in a move that could seriously hamper the Ukrainian military’s ability to target Russian forces. National Security Adviser Mike Waltz said: ‘We have taken a step back.’

‘I want to believe that the United States will stay by our side but we have to be prepared for that not to be the case,’ Macron said bluntly on Wednesday. 

‘The future of Europe does not have to be decided in Washington or Moscow,’ he added.

The future of Europe does not have to be decided by Donald Trump or Vladimir Putin , Emmanuel Macron (pictured) has said

Talks soured between the US president and Zelensky (pictured) soured on Friday after the two leaders locked horns in dramatic scenes in the Oval Office

Macron addresses the nation in Paris on Wednesday. He called for Europe to unite against Russia 

Macron described Russia as a ‘threat to France and Europe,’ and said he had decided ‘to open the strategic debate on the protection of our allies on the European continent by our (nuclear) deterrent.’

He said the use of France’s nuclear weapons would remain only in the hands of the French president.

President Zelensky thanked Macron in a post on X for his ‘clear vision’ and ‘effort to bring about peace’. 

The Ukrainian leader said: ‘Peace must be real, not just a word—it cannot mean Ukraine’s capitulation or collapse. 

‘It must be just, reliable, and lasting, and this can only be achieved through strong and long-term security guarantees — for Ukraine, Europe, and the entire world. 

‘We deeply appreciate the leadership and efforts of all those supporting Ukraine and strengthening Europe’s defense capabilities. Looking forward to working jointly on the steps toward peace in the upcoming days.’

Meanwhile, France confirmed that President Macron and Keir Starmer could accompany Mr Zelensky to the White House in the coming days to present a united front to Mr Trump. 

The three leaders are working on a plan to stop the fighting, starting with a halt to the aerial and naval bombardment by both sides.

Donald Trump (pictured) has cut off intelligence sharing with Kyiv in a move that could seriously hamper the Ukrainian military’s ability to target Russian forces

The idea of a joint visit to the White House is designed to prevent a repeat of last week’s furious Oval Office bust-up between Mr Zelensky and Mr Trump.

Elysee Palace spokesman Sophie Primas told reporters: ‘It is envisaged that President Macron might possibly go to Washington again with President Zelensky and his English counterpart.’

Asked when the summit might take place, she said: ‘I don’t have the information. I think it is in the short term.’

Sir Keir told MPs: ‘We need to do everything we can to ensure that the US, Europe and Ukraine are working together on lasting peace, and I am doing everything I can to play my part in that, in regular contact with all of the key players at the moment.’

The PM has taken a leading role in trying to mend the relationship between the US and Ukrainian leaders following last week’s television clash, which ended with Mr Trump telling his guest: ‘Make a deal or we’re out.’

Sir Keir warned Mr Zelensky he had to mend relations to save the country, prompting the Ukrainian leader to issue a conciliatory statement on Tuesday night saying he was ‘ready to work under President Trump’s strong leadership to get a peace that lasts’.

Macron’s comments on nuclear deterrent come in response to a push by German election winner Friedrich Merz, who recently called for a discussion on ‘nuclear sharing’ with France.

EU leaders are set to address the issue of nuclear deterrence, among other topics, during the Thursday summit in Brussels focusing on support for Ukraine and European defence.

European NATO allies have for decades counted on the powerful US deterrent with France being the only nuclear power in the EU. 

Macron said Russia is now spending 40 per cent of its state budget in military spending, with plans to expand its army by 2030 with 300,000 additional soldiers, 3,000 tanks and 300 jet fighters. 

‘Who can believe that today’s Russia will stop at Ukraine?’ Macron asked.

Allies need to make sure Russia would not invade Ukraine again after a potential peace deal is signed, Macron said. 

This means providing ‘long-term support for the Ukrainian army’ and possibly deploying European forces, he added. 

City workers clean the rubble of a building destroyed after a drone attack in Odesa on March 5, 2025

Those forces ‘would not fight on the front line, but they would be there, on the contrary, once peace has been signed, to guarantee that it is fully respected,’ Macron explained. 

He said that a meeting of army chiefs of staff of European nations willing to be involved is to be held in Paris next week.

Britain and France have offered to send troops to keep the peace in the event of a settlement provided the US agrees to guarantee a ‘security backstop’.

In the Commons on Wednesday, Kemi Badenoch asked for assurances that providing peacekeepers would not result Britain being drawn into a wider war.

She added: ‘We support efforts to resolve the conflict, but we cannot write a blank cheque. If British peacekeeping troops in Ukraine were attacked – whether directly or via proxies – we could be drawn into conflict with Russia.’

The PM responded: ‘Yes; that is the last thing anybody wants to see… The way to ensure that we have peace is to ensure that there are guarantees for any deal that is in place, because the surest risk that there will be conflict is if Putin thinks that he can breach any deal that may be arrived at.’

Trump has pushed for Europe to carry more of the burden of protecting the continent, and Trump administration officials have indicated that the current US level of engagement may not be forever.

In his first major speech to Congress on Tuesday night, President Trump said he ‘appreciates’ the new sentiment from Mr Zelensky, who said he was now ready to sign a deal giving US corporations access to his country’s reserves of rare minerals. 

Mr Trump said he had also received ‘strong signals’ from the Kremlin that ‘they are ready for peace’, adding: ‘Wouldn’t that be beautiful? It’s time to stop this madness.’

But diplomatic sources warned there are still formidable hurdles to securing a lasting deal.

Macron also said he hoped to convince Trump not to impose tariffs on imports from Europe. 

Trump has threatened to impose 25 per cent tariffs on European goods, arguing that the European Union has deliberately undermined trade with the US, which EU leaders have denied.

Meanwhile, Labour MPs last night urged Sir Keir to think again about his decision to raid the foreign aid budget to boost defence spending to 2.5 per cent of GDP by 2027.

Sarah Champion, chairman of the Commons international development committee, said that ‘if we abandon our commitments to the world in this way, we will see greater numbers of people displaced from their own homes as a result of climate disasters, poverty and war’.

‘More people will lose hope and instead look to extreme ideologies for the answer,’ she added.