French President Emmanuel Macron took the rare step of publicly calling out US President Donald Trump over his maligning of European Union support for Ukraine while in Washington DC on Monday.
The exchange, which CSPAN uploaded to X, saw Macron, seated next to Trump, speaking of his desire "to see Ukraine compensated" by "Russia, because they were the one to aggress." Trump recently said Ukraine started the war.
When Trump began to repeat his narrative that, "Europe is loaning the money to Ukraine, they get their money back…" Macron cut him off, physically grabbing him by the arm and saying, "No, in fact to be frank, we paid. We paid 60% of the total effort." Macron said the EU, like the US supported Ukraine through loans, guarantees and grants, and "provided real money."
Trump has repeatedly claimed that the US gives more to Ukraine, adding that the US has been "stupid" for "giving away" money and arms to Ukraine, while also claiming the EU only gives loans.
The clip ends with Macron bringing up the issue of €30 billion ($31.4 billion) in Russian assets currently frozen in the EU. He said the money was never collateral for any loans but that if during negotiations Russia wanted to forfeit the money and have it declared a loan, with Russia paying, "then that would be my wish," said a smiling Macron.
Trump says Macron agrees on Europe bearing security costs
US President Donald Trump said talks with French President Emmanuel Macron centered on ending the war in Ukraine "ravaging European soil."
The two leaders struck a cooperative tone, coming more than a week after Trump reached out unilaterally to Russia on ceasefire talks , putting European allies on edge, and throwing transatlantic unity on opposing Russia into disarray.
"It's time to end this bloodletting and restore peace … Our focus is on achieving a ceasefire and a lasting peace," Trump told a press conference at the White House after meeting with Macron.
Trump added that Macron agreed that the "cost and burden of security must be borne by Europe and not the United States alone."
Macron said in his own remarks coming after Trump, if Europe doesn't move to guarantee Ukraine's security, "how can we guarantee our own security?"
While Trump's remarks focused on the destruction Ukraine has suffered over three years of war, the US president avoided holding Russia and President Vladimir Putin responsible for launching the invasion.
Trump also said "a lot of good things towards peace are happening," citing talks with Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who Trump has also called a "dictator," while repeating Russian narratives on the war.
"It looks like we're getting very close," Trump had told reporters earlier, adding that Zelenskyy could potentially visit Washington this week or next.
Putin told Russian media on Monday he has not yet discussed resolving the conflict in detail with Trump.
While Macron visited Washington, other European leaders gathered in Kyiv to commemorate three years of war at a summit convened by Zelenskyy. The US did not send a delegation.
Macron warns 'surrender' of Ukraine for peace would project US weakness
"This peace cannot mean the surrender of Ukraine," French President Emmanuel Macron told a joint news conference with Trump on Monday. "We want a quick deal but not a fragile one."
Macron, who acknowledged he saw "good reason" to speak with Putin about ending the war, has said "surrendering" Ukraine to Vladimir Putin would project US weakness.
There has been much concern in Europe and elsewhere as to whether the US can still be depended upon as an ally and if it will abide by agreements since Trump's return to office.
Europe has struggled to grapple with Trump's impulsive and mercurial nature as he conducts business with enemies and allies and alarms went off when Trump publicly turned on Ukraine and its President Volodymyr Zelenskyy this week.
Despite Trump's own declaration that he was making a "decisive break" from "very foolish" traditional US foreign policy, Macron said on Monday, "after speaking with President Trump, I fully believe there is a path forward."
Europe shows support for Ukraine
Ukraine marked the three-year anniversary of Russia's full-scale invasion.
The three-year milestone drew more than a dozen Western leaders to Kyiv for commemorative events in a conspicuous show of support.
Thousands of people all over Europe also publicly showed their solidarity and support for Ukraine.
