French President Emmanuel Macron has described Donald Trump's return to power as a "shock" moment that should force Europe to secure its own future as well as Ukraine's.
In an interview with the prestigious Financial Times at the Élysée Palace, shortly after Trump agreed with Russia's Vladimir Putin to hold imminent peace talks, the French president defended the need for Europe to "strengthen its muscles" on defense and the economy.
"The only question at this stage is whether President Putin is really, sustainably and very willing to agree to a ceasefire on this basis. After that, it is up to the Ukrainians to negotiate with Russia. We must all remain collectively vigilant. Only Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy can negotiate on behalf of his country and not the US," Macron said.
The French leader has long argued that Europe must take more responsibility for its own security, which would only be possible by increasing economic independence and reducing its dependence on the US and China.
"This is Europe's moment to step up and execute," he said, warning of the risk of the EU's failure. "There is no solution. It is running out of steam," Macron added, also mentioning the war in Ukraine.
The role of the US is to resume this dialogue and take the initiative because Trump brought an element of strategic division. He said that it will be up to Zelenskyy only to discuss issues of territory and sovereignty. And it is up to the international community, with a specific role for the Europeans, to discuss security guarantees and, more broadly, the security framework for the entire region.
Whether Macron can unite other European countries around his agenda is an open question, especially since he has been badly weakened at home and in Brussels by the political paralysis that followed last year’s snap elections. The finance needed investment in defense and other priorities, Emmanuel Macron noted to the Financial Times. (A2 Televizion)
A2 CNN Livestream
MUND TE LEXONI GJITHASHTU
