Macron warned Putin will have outmaneuvered Trump if Russia-Ukraine talks do not occur by the U.S. deadline.
French President Emmanuel Macron warned that if Russia and Ukraine fail to hold peace talks by U.S. President Donald Trump’s Labor Day deadline, it would mean Russian President Vladimir Putin “played” his American counterpart.
Speaking at a joint press conference with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz on Friday, Mr. Macron said, “If that doesn’t happen by Monday, the deadline set by President Trump, it means that once again President Putin played President Trump.”
Macron added that if no talks occur, European leaders should impose additional sanctions to pressure Moscow. Mr. Merz pledged that Europe will not “abandon” Ukraine, but noted Mr. Putin shows no sign of meeting President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
Mr. Trump previously said Russia had two weeks to engage or he would “know what I am going to do.” Mr. Zelenskyy also reminded reporters that the deadline arrives Monday.
White House aide Stephen Miller dismissed Macron’s criticism, calling it “absurd” and praising Mr. Trump’s peace record.