-Analysis-
PARIS – The Oval Office at the White House is one of the most iconic centers of power in the world. Everything that happens there in public plays out like a play or a TV series. Monday’s meeting between Donald Trump and Emmanuel Macron was no exception.
The presidents of the United States and France played up their friendship — sometimes exaggerated it — even though they were fundamentally at odds. But that’s how you have to deal with Trump, especially when you’re on his turf, and under the watchful, even hostile, gaze of U.S. Vice President JD Vance, who expressed his strong disdain for Europeans in Munich.
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At the same time, the extent of the differences became clear at the G7 and the United Nations. In both cases, the United States and European Union countries clashed over how to define Russia’s aggression against Ukraine: Washington is firmly opposed.
Macron’s efforts, Trump’s silence
During the exchange with journalists in the Oval Office, a typical exercise, Trump even dodged a question asking if he would use the word “dictator” to describe Vladimir Putin, as he did for Volodymyr Zelensky. That says it all.
Once again, negotiating with Trump requires maintaining ambiguity. The joint press conference of the two presidents demonstrated this. It was Macron who made all the announcements, even using the word “turning point” to describe their discussions; but Trump didn’t say a word about it, not even to confirm what the French president had stated.
Macron’s determination casts doubt on the strength of the commitments he may have received from Trump. Particularly regarding U.S. support for the deployment of European troops in Ukraine as part of security guarantees in the event of a ceasefire. Without U.S. backing, most Europeans will refuse to get involved, and Ukraine will be left without guarantees that Russia won’t resume its war.
Mixed signals
Trump is even less convincing as he repeats like a mantra that everything will be fine once he strikes a “deal” — his favorite word — with Putin. We’re not necessarily inclined to believe him.
The real news is the announcement of Zelensky’s forthcoming visit to Washington in the next few days. The aim will be to sign the agreement on rare earths and critical minerals that Donald Trump really wants, in order to repay the money advanced to Ukraine. In doing so, the Ukrainian president will have the opportunity to meet with Trump before his meeting with Putin. That’s something, if only to counter the Russian disinformation that the U.S. president himself is spreading.
What happened at the UN on Tuesday overshadows the optimism Macron tried to project.
What happened at the UN on Tuesday overshadows the optimism Macron tried to project: The United States voted with Russia and its allies, against the EU countries, on a resolution to mark the third anniversary of the Russian invasion. This is unprecedented during a time of crisis.
Peace is just weeks away, Trump said. But what kind of peace? Monday’s meeting did not clear up ambiguities. Despite French and European efforts, Trump did not truly reveal his cards.
