Macron Urges Putin-Zelensky Meeting Amid Ongoing Conflict
French President Emmanuel Macron recently reminded Russian President Vladimir Putin of the importance of meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. He emphasized that if this meeting doesn’t take place by Monday, it would indicate that Putin is ignoring the agreement reached with President Trump.
Macron hopes to facilitate a Zelensky-Putin dialogue, although Russian officials have dismissed the possibility. If no meeting occurs, he intends to rally European leaders to pressure Moscow into pursuing a peace agreement.
German Prime Minister Friedrich Merz, who was with Macron at a recent White House meeting alongside other European leaders, cautioned that tensions in Eastern Europe might persist for several more months. He asserted that while European nations will not abandon Kyiv, there’s no clear sign from Putin that he’s willing to engage with Zelensky, despite Trump’s calls for dialogue.
During a press briefing at the White House, Trump noted that he expects developments within two weeks if an in-person meeting between Zelensky and Putin doesn’t happen. He expressed curiosity about whether they would engage, questioning why they wouldn’t meet.
Zelensky also weighed in, referencing Trump’s earlier remarks about the time frame needed for Putin to agree to a meeting. He mentioned that in two weeks, they would expect to remind everyone of the deadline.
Currently, Russia has been resistant to U.S. mediation efforts aimed at ending the ongoing conflict in Eastern Europe, which has been raging for three and a half years. Ukraine continues to refuse any territorial concessions, though Zelensky is open to discussions with Putin, especially while negotiating post-war security guarantees with the U.S. and Europe.
Russian officials have cast doubt on Zelensky’s legitimacy, and Moscow has persisted in its drone and missile assaults on Kyiv and other Ukrainian cities.
In response to Macron’s statements, White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller dismissed the comments as “absurd,” highlighting that Trump has managed to broker seven peace deals within seven months.
Miller reiterated Trump’s stance, labeling the conflict as a “Biden war,” and claimed that Trump is actively working towards halting the violence—a move that should be recognized globally.
Meanwhile, Trump’s special envoy, Steve Witkov, met with New York City Chief Andry Yermak and Ukrainian Deputy Minister Serhiy Xyrithotsia. Yermak noted that he hopes for a visit soon and extended an invitation to Witkoff, who has met with Putin multiple times this year.
Yermak expressed Ukraine’s commitment to supporting Trump’s resolve and that of his allies in striving for lasting peace. He also called for “global pressure” to ensure Russia is prepared to move toward negotiations, emphasizing the need for a significant leaders’ meeting for that purpose.
