French President Emmanuel Macron has announced that he will travel to Washington to persuade U.S. President Donald Trump that his interests align with European allies and that showing weakness toward Russian President Vladimir Putin would make it harder to deal with China and Iran.
“I know Trump. I respect him, and I believe he respects me,” Macron stated.
Macron emphasized that he will urge Trump to maintain a firm stance against Putin, arguing that any display of weakness would not only be uncharacteristic of Trump but also detrimental to U.S. strategic interests.
“I will tell him: Deep down, you cannot show weakness toward President Vladimir Putin. That is not who you are, and it is not in your interest,” Macron said during a social media Q&A session.
The uncertainty surrounding Trump’s approach to Russia’s three-year invasion of Ukraine has raised concerns among U.S. allies, who fear he may negotiate an inadequate deal. However, Macron noted that Trump’s unpredictability could also create uncertainty for Putin, which could be leveraged in diplomatic efforts.
“Donald Trump creates uncertainty because he wants to make deals. So, his unpredictability regarding Putin can actually be a good thing,” Macron explained, adding that the Russian leader remains unsure of Trump’s next move.
Macron will visit Washington on Monday to hold talks with Trump as European leaders seek to play a central role in negotiating an end to the war in Ukraine. Discussions are also expected to focus on providing security guarantees for Kyiv in the event of a ceasefire.
The French leader further argued that capitulating to Putin through a weak settlement in Ukraine would undermine Trump’s credibility in dealing with China and deterring Iran’s nuclear ambitions.
“How can you be credible with China if you are weak with Putin?” Macron asked, warning that abandoning Ukraine would send a dangerous strategic message to Beijing regarding Taiwan.
“Anyone who wants to prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear bomb cannot afford to show weakness toward those who are helping Tehran achieve that goal,” he added.
Macron characterized the current geopolitical developments as a “new era” and used the online session to raise public awareness about the war in Ukraine’s impact on France and the fast-evolving U.S. diplomatic landscape since Trump took office a month ago.
