However the pleasantries hardly papered over the gulf that separates the U.S. president from his French counterpart.
Trump did not name Ukraine’s Volodymyr Zelenskyy a “dictator” throughout Macron’s lightning go to to Washington — however he additionally refused to name Vladimir Putin one. Whereas the French president argued for strong safety ensures to backstop any peace deal between Kyiv and Moscow, Trump stated Europe “would not want a lot backing” on Ukraine.
Throughout Trump’s first time period, a lot was written concerning the push-pull relationship between the 2 presidents, the prolonged knuckle-crunching handshakes and Macron’s needling of the American on local weather change and commerce.
However Trump’s pivot towards Russia is a problem not like another, as Europe wakes as much as the fact that the U.S. administration might be disengaging from the continent.
On Monday, Macron managed to convey Europe’s warnings on Putin and categorical his full assist for Ukraine with out offending Trump, incomes plaudits from observers.
Former British spin physician Alastair Campbell wrote on X that Macron’s efficiency was “very properly performed,” sustaining a “balancing act” between “ego-stroking” and “severe coverage.” In the meantime, former French Ambassador to the U.S. Gérard Araud, who has been essential of Macron, stated the French president “confirmed his good relations with Trump.”
