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President Donald Trump welcomed French President Emmanuel Macron to the White House on Monday, where Ukraine and Russia dominated the agenda as the world marks three years since Vladimir Putin’s full-scale invasion.
At a joint press conference, Trump suggested that the war could end “within weeks” if handled “smartly” but provided few specifics about his plan.
“I think we could end it within weeks — if we’re smart. If we’re not smart, it’ll keep going and we’ll keep losing.” — Trump
Meanwhile, Macron emphasized that peace must come with security guarantees for Ukraine, echoing Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s concerns.
“This peace must not mean a surrender of Ukraine. It must not mean a ceasefire without guarantees,”Macron stated, stressing the importance of Ukrainian sovereignty and European security.
Trump to Meet Zelenskyy for Economic Deal, Hints at Putin Talks
Trump revealed that he expects Zelenskyy to visit Washington soon to sign an agreement giving the U.S. access to Ukraine’s valuable mineral resources as a way to pay back U.S. aid.
“I will be meeting with President Zelenskyy. In fact, he may come this week or next week to sign the agreement.”
Trump also confirmed plans to meet with Putin but declined to give a timeframe. He hinted at “economic development deals” with Russia, but did not elaborate on what those deals might entail.
When asked directly if he would call Putin a “dictator”, as he recently did with Zelenskyy, Trump declined.
“I don’t use those words lightly,” he said. “I think we’re going to see how it all works out.”
Trump’s Approach Marks Sharp Shift in U.S. Foreign Policy
Trump has been increasing pressure on Ukraine to resolve the conflict, openly criticizing Zelenskyy’s leadership and claiming Ukraine has “no cards” left to play.
At the same time, Trump has not publicly demanded any concessions from Russia and has ruled out NATO membership for Ukraine and a return to its 2014 borders—both key Ukrainian objectives.
This marks a dramatic shift from previous U.S. foreign policy, with Trump’s “America First” stance reshaping transatlantic alliances.
Tensions Over Ukraine War Funding
Trump also repeated his longstanding claim that the U.S. has given Ukraine $350 billion—a number far higher than the $119 billion estimated by the Kiel Institute for the World Economy.
Trump further asserted that Europe was being reimbursed 60% of its contributions, prompting a swift correction from Macron.
“No, in fact, to be frank, we paid. We paid 60% of the total effort: it was through, like the U.S., loans, guarantees, grants,” Macron countered. “And we provided real money, to be clear.”
Behind the Scenes: U.S. and Russia Talk Without Ukraine
While Macron gathered European leaders in Paris for emergency Ukraine meetings, top U.S. officials held undisclosed talks with Russian counterparts in Saudi Arabia—without including Ukraine or European allies.
This secretive diplomacy raises concerns among U.S. and NATO partners about how much Trump may be willing to concede in negotiations with Putin.
What’s Next?
With Trump expected to meet Zelenskyy soon and Russia peace talks progressing behind closed doors, the world is watching closely to see if Trump’s non-traditional approach to diplomacy will lead to a breakthrough—or a geopolitical shake-up.
Will Ukraine be forced into an unfavorable deal? Will Trump’s economic talks with Putin shape the post-war landscape? And how will NATO allies respond to this seismic shift in U.S. foreign policy?
The coming weeks could prove pivotal.
