WASHINGTON:
U.S. President Donald Trump announced on Monday that Russian President Vladimir Putin has agreed to the deployment of European peacekeepers in Ukraine as part of a potential ceasefire. Meanwhile, French President Emmanuel Macron confirmed that Europe is prepared to contribute to the peace process.
During Oval Office discussions, Trump and Macron outlined diplomatic efforts to end the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. Their talks followed a virtual meeting with G7 leaders, held to mark the third anniversary of the war.
When asked whether Putin would accept a peacekeeping force, Trump responded, “Yes, he has no issue with it. I directly raised this with him, and he agreed.”
Macron, who became the first European leader to visit Trump since his return to office, emphasized that Europe is willing to play a role in ensuring security. He stated that the first priority is establishing a ceasefire, which would then be followed by a structured peace agreement supported by security guarantees.
“We are prepared to offer security guarantees, which may include deploying troops,” Macron explained. “However, their purpose would be solely to uphold peace, not to engage in active combat or operate on the front lines.”
Additionally, Trump revealed that the U.S. is nearing a minerals trade agreement with Ukraine. He hinted that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky could visit Washington in the coming days to finalize the deal.
“He might arrive this week or next to sign the agreement, which would be a positive step,” Trump said.
