Trump, Macron agree on sharing costs of securing peace in Ukraine

WASHINGTON

US President Donald Trump and his French counterpart, Emmanuel Macron, agreed Monday that the costs of securing the peace in Ukraine must be shared mutually by the US and Europe.

Addressing reporters at the White House after he met with Macron behind closed doors for over an hour, Trump said he was pleased that the French president "agrees with me on many of the most important issues," including chiefly that it is "the right time" to end Russia's war against Ukraine.

"I'm also pleased that President Macron agrees that the cost and burden of securing the peace must be borne by the nations of Europe, not alone by the United States, and Europe must take that central role in assuring long-term security of Ukraine, which they want to do, and that's not a very big step," he said.

"The big step is what's going to happen over the next few weeks," he added, likely referring to ongoing peace talks.

Macron acknowledged that Europe must do more "for security in Europe, for defense in Europe, and to more fairly share the security burden that your country has been carrying for so many years."

"Europe is very clear eyed about this. We know what we need to do as Europeans, given the threats surrounding us and the responsibilities that we must shoulder," he added.

WASHINGTON

US President Donald Trump and his French counterpart, Emmanuel Macron, agreed Monday that the costs of securing the peace in Ukraine must be shared mutually by the US and Europe.

"The big step is what's going to happen over the next few weeks," he added, likely referring to ongoing peace talks.

Macron acknowledged that Europe must do more "for security in Europe, for defense in Europe, and to more fairly share the security burden that your country has been carrying for so many years."

"Europe is very clear eyed about this. We know what we need to do as Europeans, given the threats surrounding us and the responsibilities that we must shoulder," he added.