Washington: U.S. President Donald Trump has criticized French President Emmanuel Macron and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer for not doing enough to end the war in Ukraine.
His remarks come ahead of their scheduled visits to Washington next week, where they are set to meet with U.S. President Joe Biden at the White House.
In an interview with Fox News, Trump claimed that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has no significant role in peace negotiations. "I don't think he holds much importance in the negotiation process," Trump stated.
Since the start of the war in Ukraine in 2022, the UK, France, and other Western allies have been supplying Kyiv with weapons and military aid. However, recent developments indicate growing tensions over peace talks.
On Monday, European leaders held an emergency meeting in Paris, fearing they might be sidelined from upcoming negotiations between the U.S. and Russia. Their concerns were validated when Washington did not invite European or Ukrainian representatives to the peace talks set to take place in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Despite his criticism of Macron and Starmer, Trump also praised European leaders. He described Macron as a "friend" and called Starmer "a very good person."
French President Macron is expected to visit the White House on Monday, while British Prime Minister Starmer is scheduled for a visit on Thursday.
