Macron Suggests Ceasefire with Russia Could Be Possible, But Security Guarantees Essential
French President Emmanuel Macron has expressed optimism that a ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine could be reached in the coming weeks, but emphasized that any truce would need to include strong security guarantees.
Speaking to Fox News after talks with U.S. President Donald Trump, Macron stressed the need for caution in negotiations, recalling that a previous ceasefire in 2014 had been repeatedly violated by Russia.
Macron’s remarks came as Trump suggested the war could end “within weeks” and urged Europe to take on the bulk of peacekeeping responsibilities.
Trump’s calls for peace talks and his criticism of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy have raised concerns among European leaders about a potential deal that might favor Russia and allow Moscow to regroup.
Macron, alongside British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, has positioned himself as a key figure in ensuring a united European stance amid shifting U.S. policies.
Both leaders have proposed sending European peacekeeping forces to Ukraine—not to the frontlines, but in strategic locations as part of a broader peacekeeping agreement.
Macron reiterated this idea, stressing that these forces would be backed by the U.S. to ensure credibility and maintain peace.
While Trump acknowledged the possibility of European peacekeepers in Ukraine, Russia’s ambassador to the UK had rejected the idea earlier.
Trump did not mention security guarantees in his statements but underscored that Europe, alongside the U.S., should share the financial burden of securing peace.
Macron concluded that Trump’s involvement in the peace process was a “game changer” and confirmed that Trump had “good reason” to engage with Russian President Vladimir Putin in negotiations. Trump stated he would eventually meet with Putin but did not specify when.
Meanwhile, Trump has invited Zelenskyy to the White House to finalize a rare earth mineral deal, framing it as a way for Ukraine to repay the billions in aid provided by the U.S. Zelenskyy had initially resisted the deal due to the lack of security guarantees but has since signaled readiness to negotiate with the U.S., provided security assurances are part of the agreement.
