WASHINGTON — On Monday, U.S. President Donald Trump announced that Russian President Vladimir Putin was prepared to accept European peacekeepers in Ukraine. This development could mark a significant breakthrough in efforts to end the Kremlin's ongoing war against Kyiv.
Trump stated, “He will accept that. I have asked him that question,” when queried about Putin's stance on the deployment of European troops. “Look, if we do this deal, he’s not looking for more war ... I’ve specifically asked him that question. He has no problem with it.”
If Trump’s interpretation of Putin's stance is accurate, it would represent a major shift from Russia's previous position, which viewed the deployment of foreign peacekeepers in Ukraine as an escalation.
During a meeting in the Oval Office with French President Emmanuel Macron, Trump expressed confidence that the war could conclude within weeks. However, he warned that without an agreement, the conflict might escalate into World War III.
Macron, alongside British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, visited Washington this week to urge the Trump administration to maintain support for Ukraine and the transatlantic relationship that has ensured European security for over eight decades post-World War II.
Trump’s engagement with Putin and his characterization of Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelenskyy as a dictator have left European leaders anxious, prompting them to prepare for a scenario where Washington may no longer be a reliable ally. These concerns have been intensified by American officials echoing Russian sentiments that Ukraine should relinquish territory and abstain from joining NATO.
On Monday, European leaders traveled to Kyiv to demonstrate their support and announce new aid packages, while finance ministers in Brussels considered seizing frozen Russian assets to back Ukraine if U.S. support wanes.
In Washington, Trump clarified that he expected Europe to assume primary responsibility for any security guarantees in a potential ceasefire. “Europe is going to make sure that nothing happens. I don’t think that is going to be much of a problem, once we settle, there’s going to be no more war in Ukraine,” he stated.
Macron showed openness to the idea, indicating that France had communicated with other European countries, particularly Britain, about a framework for acting as peacekeepers, albeit without deploying soldiers on the front lines.
The French president emphasized the importance of including security guarantees for Ukraine that were absent from prior agreements with the Kremlin. He suggested these should be backed by the U.S. during a press conference with Trump.
“After today's discussions, I am convinced that there is a way ... to make this solid, lasting peace a reality,” Macron said. “A lot of my European colleagues are ready to be engaged, but we do need this American backing because this is part of the security guarantees.”
According to Macron, the proposed European peacekeeping force, discussed primarily with the U.K., would serve as “a show of support” to Ukraine, contingent on a peace agreement between Kyiv and Moscow.
“We want peace swiftly. But we don't want an agreement that is weak,” he stated.
It remains uncertain whether the Kremlin would agree to a settlement as discussed on Monday, especially considering its traditional opposition to peacekeepers.
Moscow may also have concerns about Trump's remarks on recaptured territory. While Trump acknowledged the difficulty of regaining invaded land, he expressed hope that Ukrainian forces might reclaim some of it.
Despite differences, Trump and Macron displayed camaraderie that could temporarily ease fears of a rift over Ukraine policy.
They exchanged compliments before addressing the press, with Trump highlighting a “very special relationship” with Macron. The U.S. president shared a humorous anecdote about a dinner atop the Eiffel Tower, eliciting laughter from both leaders.
However, some tensions surfaced, particularly regarding whether European aid to Ukraine was a loan and if Kyiv needed to reimburse its benefactors.
After Trump discussed recouping U.S. aid, Macron gently corrected him, noting that the U.S. was not alone in supporting Ukraine and challenging Trump’s view on reparations.
“This war cost all of us a lot of money. And this is the responsibility of Russia, because the aggressor is Russia,” Macron stated. Trump has refrained from blaming Russia for the war and labeled Zelenskyy a “dictator.”
When asked if he considered Putin a dictator, Trump replied, “I don’t use those words lightly. We’re going to see how it all works out.”
Trump expressed confidence that Ukraine would soon finalize an agreement to cede some critical raw materials to America, ensuring that the U.S. would recoup its investment over time.
Seated beside Macron, Trump lamented the amount of aid already sent to Ukraine, erroneously inflating the figure by nearly $200 billion. “We're in for $350 billion,” Trump said. “How we got there, I don't know. We had nothing to show for it.”
In reality, Congress has authorized an estimated $120 billion in aid for Ukraine, which has empowered its military to repel Russia's advances and retain control of most of its territory over the past three years of conflict.
Trump blamed the Biden administration for this discrepancy, while falsely claiming that all European aid to Ukraine had been provided as a loan.
