Paris: French President Emmanuel Macron has emphasized that any peace deal in Ukraine must not come at the cost of the country’s sovereignty, warning that a settlement amounting to surrender would be a "bad outcome for everyone," including the United States.
His remarks, published in the Financial Times on Friday, come as U.S. President Donald Trump intensifies diplomatic efforts to broker an agreement between Kyiv and Moscow.
In an interview conducted at the Élysée Palace, Macron asserted that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky remains the only leader capable of negotiating on behalf of Ukraine. He stressed that Russian President Vladimir Putin must demonstrate a credible commitment to a ceasefire before talks can progress.
Trump, who recently returned to the White House, spoke separately with both Putin and Zelensky this week, urging U.S. officials to initiate negotiations to end the war, now nearing its third year. His outreach followed comments from U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, who suggested that restoring Ukraine’s pre-2014 borders—including Crimea—was unlikely and that NATO membership for Kyiv was not considered part of a viable resolution.
Macron acknowledged that Trump’s renewed engagement has created a “window of opportunity” for a diplomatic resolution. However, he insisted that discussions over Ukraine’s territorial integrity and sovereignty should remain in Zelensky’s hands. Meanwhile, the broader question of regional security and guarantees for Ukraine should involve the international community, with a prominent role for European nations.
The French leader also characterized Trump’s return to office as an “electroshock,” arguing that it should serve as a wake-up call for Europe to take greater responsibility for its own security and for Ukraine’s future. His comments reflect growing concerns among European leaders about the potential direction of U.S. policy under Trump, particularly as fears mount in Ukraine that Washington may push for a settlement that compromises their national interests.
