Donald Trump (Republican) "did not like" being challenged by Emmanuel Macron during a crucial call with European leaders about his upcoming summit with Vladimir Putin. The French president took "very tough positions" and told Trump that granting Putin a meeting was "a very big thing" to give the Russian leader.
The confrontation occurred during a one-hour virtual call on Wednesday, organised by German Chancellor Friedrich Merz. European leaders including Volodymyr Zelensky, Keir Starmer (Labour), NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni joined the discussion ahead of Trump's Friday meeting with Putin in Alaska.
European concerns over Putin summit
Trump outlined his goals for the Alaska summit: securing a ceasefire in the Russia-Ukraine war and determining whether full peace is possible. However, European leaders expressed significant reservations about the meeting, which represents Putin's first visit to American soil since 2015.
Zelensky told Trump that Putin "cannot be trusted" and warned the US president about the Russian leader's reliability. The Ukrainian president remains excluded from Friday's summit, which according to The Guardian was organised "at Putin's request".
Diplomatic tensions and guarantees
Trump assured European leaders that any territorial decisions would require Ukraine's involvement and could not be made without Kyiv's participation. The president emphasised that Zelensky would be included in potential follow-up meetings.
According to The Guardian, discussions included forming a "coalition of the willing" - western countries providing military guarantees to protect Ukrainian sovereignty. German Chancellor Merz and NATO's Rutte were particularly active during the call, while Meloni raised several important points.
Stakes and consequences
Trump warned Putin would face "severe consequences" if he refuses to agree to a ceasefire, though he declined to specify what those measures would entail. When pressed about sanctions or tariffs, Trump told reporters: "I don't have to say, there will be very severe consequences."
The BBC reports Trump admitted he may not be able to stop Putin from killing civilians, referencing Russian rockets hitting nursing homes and apartment buildings. Russia's Foreign Ministry has dismissed European consultation efforts as "politically and practically insignificant," according to The Guardian.
Sources used: "The Independent", "The Guardian", "BBC", "Metro", "Express" Note: This article has been edited with the help of Artificial Intelligence.
