French President Emmanuel Macron on Monday cautioned the United States against engaging in trade conflicts with both China and Europe while urging Washington to play a decisive role in securing peace in Ukraine. His remarks came during a visit to Washington, where he met with US President Donald Trump.
“You cannot have a trade war with China and Europe at the same time,” Macron said in an interview with Fox News. Trump’s administration has pledged sweeping tariffs targeting both economic blocs, raising concerns among European allies.
During his discussions with Trump, Macron reaffirmed Europe’s commitment to increasing defense spending while calling for a “strong” US role in ensuring a sustainable peace settlement in Ukraine. “Kyiv must be involved” in any negotiations to end the conflict, he stated.
Addressing Trump’s recent outreach to Russian President Vladimir Putin, Macron said the US leader had “good reason” to engage with Moscow but said that any resolution must include security guarantees. “There is good reason for President Trump to re-engage with President Putin,” he said at a joint news conference with Trump.
Ahead of his meeting with Trump, Macron took a firm stance against Russia, dismissing any claims that Ukraine initiated the war. “For three years, Ukraine has fought with courage that commands respect against an aggressor, Russia,” he wrote on X. “Our support for Ukraine will remain unwavering.”
Macron also cautioned that any peace deal should not come at Ukraine’s expense. “This peace cannot mean the surrender of Ukraine,” he declared at the joint news conference, warning against a world where the “law of the strongest” prevails.