WASHINGTON – French President Emmanuel Macron and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer are set to visit Washington next week to meet with President Donald Trump amid rising tensions over the U.S. approach to the ongoing war in Ukraine.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!National Security Adviser Mike Waltz confirmed the meetings on Fox News, explaining that Washington is welcoming Europe’s increased involvement in both its own defense and Ukraine’s defense. “We welcome Europe stepping in and offering security guarantees. We’ve been asking for years for Europe to step up and contribute more,” Waltz said during an interview on America Reports.
The meetings come at a time when European leaders have raised concerns over Trump’s handling of the war, particularly his recent push for negotiations with Russian officials. This week, the Trump administration sent senior officials, including Waltz, to meet with Russian representatives in Saudi Arabia, sidelining both Ukrainian and European officials in the process.
Trump’s stance has shifted dramatically as he has blamed Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky for starting the conflict, which began when Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. This invasion followed Russia’s long-standing demand to prevent Ukraine from joining NATO. Since then, the U.S. has been a major supporter of Ukraine, providing billions in military and financial aid, a stance that Trump has repeatedly questioned, calling for more European contributions to Ukraine’s defense efforts.
The meetings between Trump, Macron, and Starmer are critical as the U.S. and Europe appear to be at odds on how to move forward. Macron recently hosted a summit of European leaders in Paris to discuss the evolving situation and Europe’s role in the conflict. Another summit was planned for Wednesday, as European countries explore their strategies in light of Trump’s remarks.
Prime Minister Starmer has doubled down on the UK’s support for Ukraine, saying that the British government is prepared to send troops to Ukraine if necessary to enforce a peace agreement. Starmer’s position highlights Britain’s commitment to Ukraine’s sovereignty and security, even as Trump seeks to shift the focus of U.S. foreign policy closer to home.
As the meeting between these key leaders approaches, the outcome will be closely watched, with potential implications for both the future of U.S.-European relations and the trajectory of the war in Ukraine. The stakes are high, with global security and the balance of power in Europe hanging in the balance.
