President Macron seeks backing Ukraine without assistance from the US

President Emmanuel Macron said in a prime-time address to France on Wednesday night that Europe must be prepared to go it alone in defending Ukraine.

This he says should be without further assistance from the United States under the Trump administration.

While speaking from the Élysée Palace in Paris, Macron said,

“I want to believe that the U.S. will stand by our side, but we have to be ready for that not to be the case,

“Whether we reach peace in Ukraine soon or not, we need to be able to recognize the Russian threat and better defend ourselves in order to deter such attacks.

“Whatever happens, we need to provide ourselves with more arms, more equipment in terms of defense, to provide a dissuasive force.”

Macron warned that Ukraine cannot be abandoned in its fight against Russia because, he said:

“Who can believe that in this context, Russia will stop at Ukraine? Russia has become, and will remain, a threat to France and Europe.”

The French president made clear that France and other European countries must take concrete steps to protect the security of their nations and Ukraine’s.

The steps he said included investing in defense and military capabilities.

Macron added,“To remain a spectator in this dangerous world would be crazy,

“The initiatives for peace are going in the right direction, and I welcome them,

“and we need to continue to help Ukrainians resist until they can negotiate with Russia a solid and lasting peace for themselves and for all of us.

“The path to peace cannot be achieved by abandoning Ukraine.”

Macron reiterated remarks made by British Prime Minister Keir Starmer over the weekend at a defense summit in London.

He stated that Europe may have to put boots on the ground in Ukraine.

“Our forces will be there if necessary to guarantee peace, not before a peace agreement is signed,

“We will continue to meet with allies to move toward the signing of such an agreement.

“It’s a plan for a lasting, solid, verifiable peace agreement, which we’re working on with European partners and Ukraine.”

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said in a post on X that he was grateful for Macron’s clear vision.

He expressed his belief that their joint efforts will achieve peace.

Zelensky speaking on peace, said, “Peace must be real, not just a word – it cannot mean Ukraine’s capitulation or collapse.

“It must be just, reliable, and lasting, and this can only be achieved through strong and long-term security guarantees — for Ukraine, Europe, and the entire world.”

Macron and Starmer have teamed up in a desperate attempt to heal American-Ukraine ties after last Friday’s verbal war at the White House.

The verbal war involved Zelenskyy, President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance.

Both Starmer and Macron have sought to balance their yearslong outspoken support for Zelenskyy.

This comes with the need to retain good relations with the United States.

Teeing up his speech, Macron said on X that it came in a “moment of great uncertainty, when the world is facing its greatest challenges.”

Starmer told British lawmakers Wednesday that he had spoken with Trump three times since he visited the White House last week.

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