Macron Sets Conditions In Talk With Trump

• 9.11.2024, 13:28

Diplomacy with Russia must lead to real concessions by the Kremlin.

European leaders have begun talks on how to help Ukraine repel an invasion by the aggressor country Russia without Washington's support, while simultaneously trying to convince US President-elect Donald Trump not to cut aid to Kyiv. This was reported by The Wall Street Journal on November 8.

At a meeting of the European Political Community in Budapest on November 7, EU leaders discussed the consequences of Trump's landslide victory in the US election and, for the first time, discussed whether European governments could fill the gap if Trump cut aid to Ukraine. While Russian troops are making progress on the battlefield in Ukraine, Trump's victory puts European capitals in front of the prospect of a sharp reduction in US military protection.

French President Emmanuel Macron said that while the countries may have different approaches, their interests coincide. According to him, Europe's interest is that Russia does not win the war, since this would mean that an imperialist power is building on Europe's borders. A day earlier, in a 25-minute phone call, Macron pressed Trump to ensure that any diplomacy with Russia over Ukraine would lead to real concessions by the Kremlin, people familiar with the matter told.

The leaders of the Baltic states and some Scandinavian countries said Europe should be prepared to step up its support for Ukraine if necessary. There are concerns that if Russia's illegitimate President Vladimir Putin wins the war, he could at some point test NATO's eastern borders.