French President Emmanuel Macron is meeting with President Donald Trump Monday at the White House.
The meeting comes after Macron called for an emergency gathering of world leaders after the Trump administration excluded Europe from sitting at the negotiating table to settle the war between Ukraine and Russia.
Macron first arrived at the White House around 8 a.m. local time Monday and was inside for several hours. He and Trump participated in a call with Group of Seven (G7) leaders.
While he was leaving, Macron was seen giving a thumbs up to reporters and said the phone call with the G7 leaders was “perfect.”
ON THIRD ANNIVERSARY OF UKRAINE INVASION, EUROPEAN LEADERS SHOW SUPPORT, EXPRESS UNEASE
French President Emmanuel Macron arrives at the White House on Monday, Feb. 24. (AP/Manuel Balce Ceneta)
Macron will later hold a bilateral meeting with Trump in the Oval Office, followed by a joint press conference at 2 p.m. ET.
Trump said in a post on Truth Social that Monday morning’s call was convened by Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau “to acknowledge the Third Anniversary of the Russia-Ukraine War – Which would have never started if I was President.
“Everyone expressed their goal of seeing the War end, and I emphasized the importance of the vital “Critical Minerals and Rare-Earths Deal” between the United States and Ukraine, which we hope will be signed very soon! This deal, which is an “Economic Partnership,” will ensure the American people recoup the Tens of Billions of Dollars and Military Equipment sent to Ukraine, while also helping Ukraine’s economy grow as this Brutal and Savage War comes to an end,” Trump said.
“At the same time, I am in serious discussions with President Vladimir Putin of Russia concerning the ending of the War, and also major Economic Development transactions which will take place between the United States and Russia. Talks are proceeding very well!” he added.
Then-President-elect Donald Trump looks at France’s President Emmanuel Macron at Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris, France, on Dec. 7, 2024. (AP/Thibault Camus)
Monday is the third anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Trump said Friday that Macron and U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer “haven’t done anything” since 2022 to end the war between Russia and Ukraine.
France’s President Emmanuel Macron, in foreground, departs after visiting President Donald Trump in the White House on Monday, Feb. 24. (AP/Alex Brandon)
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“Trump, I know him. I respect him and I believe he respects me,” Macron said the day before. “I will tell him: deep down you cannot be weak in the face of President (Vladimir Putin). It’s not you, it’s not what you’re made of, and it’s not in your interests.”
Fox News’ Emma Colton and Caroline McKee contributed to this report.
