In the name of all Europeans, Macron makes Trump a huge offer

French President Emmanuel Macron traveled to Washington on Monday with a comprehensive offer. After US President Donald Trump called Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky a "dictator" , panic broke out in Europe that the US could turn its back on Kyiv completely. To prevent this, French President Trump made a far-reaching proposal with the aim of getting Trump on his side.

Macron assured Trump that Europe would send peacekeepers to Ukraine as soon as an agreement between Kiev and Moscow was signed. "We will ensure peace," said the Frenchman. The European soldiers would "not go to the front, but show support for Ukraine," said Macron.

He stressed that European soldiers would not be stationed for combat missions, but to maintain peace. Macron also stressed that the European proposal for a ceasefire and subsequent peace was based on "measurable" conditions. The Europeans' concern is that Putin will agree to a ceasefire that will not be followed by a lasting peace.

To win Trump over to his side, the French president made the US president a huge offer. "Europe will bear the burden," Macron said. In the Oval Office, it became clear how much Trump liked the proposal. "Europe will make sure that nothing happens on the front. That won't be a big problem. Once we have a deal, there will be no more war," he said. When asked whether Putin would accept European peacekeepers , he said, "Yeah, he will accept that. He has no problem with it. I've spoken to him."

Macron thus made a promise on behalf of all Europeans to use troops to secure peace in Ukraine. European military and diplomatic circles had always said that this would only be possible if European troops operated under the US security umbrella. After all, the Europeans did not have sufficient capabilities to deter a possible Russian attack on their soldiers.

According to Macron, Trump promised him that he would provide that same security. "We have a clear message that the US is ready to show solidarity with our approach," he said. "If Russia were to attack, it would be in conflict with all of us," said the French president, adding: "We have the US's deterrent capability on our side." However, Trump himself did not make these important promises at the press conference.

In the US Congress, too, there is little willingness on the part of Republicans to provide security guarantees for a European mission in Ukraine at the level of the NATO mutual assistance clause. "We need a European solution to a European problem," said Republican Senator and member of the Armed Services Committee, Tim Sheehy, to WELT. Senator Tommy Tuberville, a close ally of Trump, said: "That is entirely up to the Europeans."

Apparently, Macron's troop commitment is part of a draft agreement that the French president presented to his host in Washington on Monday. "We have worked with Zelensky on a proposal that is acceptable to Ukraine," said Macron. President Trump confirmed that he will meet Zelensky to sign the contract on valuable mineral deposits "and to talk (about the draft agreement, ed.)".

During the two public appearances, first in the Oval Office and later in the East Room of the White House, Macron had to maintain a difficult balance. On the one hand, he tried to flatter the US president. He thanked him for coming to Paris for the reopening of Notre Dame in December. For Trump arranging the meeting in Washington on Monday at short notice. For the fact that the US is currently "doing such important work" with Zelenskyj on a raw materials agreement.

Macron also repeatedly tried to give Trump the role of a historical peacemaker who was "on the right side of history." Like the Europeans, the US president also wanted to ensure "a lasting peace" for Ukraine. Trump nodded contentedly at the flattering words. "My most important legacy should be that of a peacemaker," the US president even declared at one point. But at no point did he give any concrete answers or even promises about how his government would guarantee this peace through military means.

At the same time, Macron tried to avoid making any similar statements to Trump's. "We can end this war very quickly if we are smart," Trump claimed. From the Frenchman's and the Europeans' point of view, that is not an option because it can only mean a hastily negotiated ceasefire in Russia's interest. The French president therefore insisted that there should only be a peace agreement that is "not a ceasefire without guarantees." Macron also did not bat an eyelid when Trump casually commented that a meeting with Putin on May 9, the anniversary of the Soviet victory over Nazi Germany, would be "too early." But he, Trump, would have a meeting with Putin "soon."

For a moment, the public meeting even became awkward when Macron could no longer avoid correcting the US president. Trump had repeatedly claimed that the US had spent around 350 billion euros on the Ukraine war, while the Europeans only spent 100 billion, and on top of that "they're getting their money back." Macron briefly put his hand on Trump's arm and interrupted: "To be honest, we (Europeans, ed.) paid 60 percent of the entire effort (for Ukraine, ed.), in the form of loans, grants and guarantees. Real money." "Okay," Trump nodded and grinned.