President Donald Trump said ‘a lot of progress has been made’ toward ending the war in Ukraine after French President Emmanuel Macron joined him at the White House for a call with Group of Seven (G7) leaders.
Macron, who 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, is in Washington, D.C., Monday to meet with Trump.
Macron first arrived at the White House around 8 a.m. local time and was inside for several hours. While he was leaving, Macron was seen giving a thumbs up to reporters and said the phone call with the G7 leaders was ‘perfect.’
‘President Macron is a very special man in my book,’ Trump later told reporters while sitting next to the French president. ‘We were together. We did it together. And I think a lot of progress has been made. We’ve had some very good talks with Russia. We’ve had some very good talks with others and we’re trying to get the war ended with Russia and Ukraine.’
‘And we were also talking about trade, various trade deals that we will be doing with France,’ Trump continued. ‘And again, the relationships have been very special with France and very special with this gentleman on my right. And we look forward to keeping that going for a long period of time.’
Macron added that ‘we do share the objective of peace’ in Ukraine, ‘but we are very aware of the necessity to have guarantees and solid peace in order to stabilize the situation.’
‘And we are personal friends, as you mentioned it, because we work very well together,’ Macron said about Trump. ‘And I think the U.S. and France always stands on the same side – the right side, I would say of history. And this is exactly what’s at stake today.
Macron also said ‘this is a very important moment for Europe as well.’
‘And, I’m here as well, after discussions with all my colleagues to say that Europe is willing to step up to be a stronger partner, to do more in defense and security for this continent, and as well to be a reliable partner and to be engaged in trade, economy, investment.’
Macron and Trump were then set to have a bilateral meeting in the Oval Office, with a joint press conference to follow.
Trump said in a post on Truth Social that Monday morning’s G7 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.
Trump then said alongside Macron on Monday that ‘I will be meeting with President Zelenskyy’ of Ukraine and ‘In fact, he may come in this week or next week to sign the agreement, which would be nice.’
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.
‘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.