Macron: Putin doesn't want peace, only Ukraine's surrender

"Do I think Putin wants peace? I think the answer is no," Macron said.

The French President added that, unlike Putin, he believes President Trump genuinely wants peace. According to Macron, Putin's goal is to push Ukraine toward capitulation, and that is exactly what he is offering.

Tomorrow, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy will visit the White House to discuss steps to end the war. Several European leaders will also join the meeting with US President Donald Trump.

Macron said he expects a "tough" discussion with Trump. He emphasized that the goal of tomorrow's talks is to demonstrate a united front between Ukraine and its European allies.

He added that European partners want Ukraine's territorial integrity to be respected and stressed that Kyiv must be represented in any negotiations about Ukraine.

Macron also highlighted that a strong Ukrainian military is essential for a lasting peace deal. He said that any deal based on the absence of the Ukrainian army, or on reducing its size, would be insincere and doomed to failure. He added, "There is only one state proposing a peace that would be a capitulation: Russia."

The future of Europe

Macron warned that weakness in relations with Moscow today would set the stage for future conflicts. He said that if relations with Russia are weak now, it would leave Europe unprepared for the conflicts of tomorrow. He also criticized the Russian government, noting that since 2008, it has never honored its promises of peace and non-aggression.

The French leader added that he wants to see a strong and independent Europe, emphasizing that Europe should be powerful, free, and capable of taking responsibility and making decisions on its own.

Peace deal in Ukraine

On the night of August 16, US President Donald Trump met with Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin in Alaska. The main topic was the war in Ukraine.

Initially, Trump was expected to push for an immediate ceasefire or threaten secondary sanctions if it did not happen. But his approach shifted, and he is now working directly toward a full peace agreement.

Trump's Special Envoy Steve Witkoff explained the change. He said the US-Russia talks made "significant progress."

"We made so much progress at this meeting with regard to all the other ingredients necessary for a peace deal that we, that President Trump pivoted to that place," Witkoff said.

Media reports have provided more details on Putin's demands. According to Reuters, Moscow wants the Ukrainian Armed Forces to withdraw from the Donetsk and Luhansk regions in exchange for a promise to halt fighting in the Kherson and Zaporizhzhia regions.

Russia is also reportedly ready to return small areas in the Sumy and Kharkiv regions. Putin is seeking recognition of occupied Crimea as Russian territory, but it is unclear whether he expects this from the US alone or from all Western countries and Ukraine.

For more on Russia's alleged demands, read the RBC-Ukraine report.