French President Macron: discussed with U.S. President Trump the troubling developments in Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine

French President Macron: discussed with U.S. President Trump the troubling developments in Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine

French President Emmanuel Macron and U.S. President Donald Trump engaged in a call to discuss the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine, following a meeting of European leaders in Paris. The summit, attended by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, saw 26 countries, including the UK and France, pledge to deploy troops in Ukraine as a "reassurance force" in the event of a ceasefire [1].

During the call, Trump emphasized the need for European leaders to stop purchasing Russian oil and to place economic pressure on China for funding Russia’s war efforts. Macron confirmed that the coalition and the U.S. had agreed to work more closely on future sanctions, notably on Russia's oil and gas sector and on China [2].

The meeting aimed to finalize security guarantees for Ukraine, which are intended to reassure the country and deter Russia from attacking again. Macron initially stated that the 26 nations would deploy to Ukraine, but later clarified that some countries would provide guarantees while remaining outside Ukraine, such as by training and equipping Ukrainian forces [3].

European officials remain hopeful that peace is a distant prospect but are preparing for the eventual end of the war. They view the planning of security guarantees as a way to reassure Kyiv of their support and hope that Trump will join their efforts [4].

Despite Zelensky's willingness to talk, a ceasefire agreement is not currently on the table, and it remains unclear whether Russian President Vladimir Putin will agree to a cessation of hostilities. Putin has stated that in the absence of a deal, Russia will have to achieve its goals "by military means" [1].

The Kremlin has expressed opposition to the European security plan for Ukraine, stating that security guarantees cannot be provided by foreign military contingents and that much work needs to be done before a high-level meeting between Moscow and Kyiv on settling the conflict [5].

In a separate development, a senior aide to Putin suggested that Russia would take more Ukrainian territory and go after British property after the UK government said it had spent around $1.3bn of money raised from frozen Russian assets on weapons for Ukraine [6].

The conflict has also seen an increase in casualties, with at least two mine-clearing workers killed in a Russian rocket attack in Ukraine [7].

The ongoing conflict and the potential for further escalation continue to have significant implications for global markets and geopolitical stability. Investors and financial professionals should closely monitor developments as they unfold.

[1] https://www.inkl.com/news/ukraine-russia-war-latest-trump-issues-warning-to-europe-as-macron-confirms-26-countries-have-pledged-troops
[2] https://www.inkl.com/news/what-donald-trump-told-european-leaders
[3] https://www.inkl.com/news/macron-says-26-nations-will-provide-postwar-military-backing-to-ukraine
[4] https://www.inkl.com/news/european-leaders-on-security-guarantees-for-ukraine
[5] https://www.inkl.com/news/cremlin-objects-to-european-security-plan-for-ukraine
[6] https://www.inkl.com/news/putin-ally-says-russia-will-seize-british-assets-and-seize-more-of-ukraine
[7] https://www.inkl.com/news/two-mine-clearing-workers-killed-in-russian-rocket-attack