Macron says Trump was ready to 'give up Ukraine' to Putin in Alaska
Photo: French President Emmanuel Macron (Getty Images)
Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin were planning a large-scale division of Ukrainian territory. This took place during a meeting between the two leaders in Anchorage, according to France 2.
In August 2025, a fateful document was nearly signed at the military base in Anchorage. The agreement reportedly envisaged the transfer of Ukrainian territories to Russia, with the Kremlin set to receive even land it did not control at the time, Macron said.
"What did Trump see when he arrived at the Anchorage summit? He thought Ukraine was going to lose, so he wanted to strike a quick peace deal. Do you remember January–February 2025? It feels like an eternity ago. He believed Ukraine would lose; things had gone badly in the Oval Office with President Zelenskyy. Then, less than a year ago, there was a meeting between President Trump and President Putin in Anchorage, when an agreement was already almost on the table, which said that we would give up Ukrainian territory that had not even been captured yet," Emmanuel Macron said.
According to the French president, the situation was saved by decisive European intervention. In mid-August 2025, a special delegation urgently flew to the United States. European leaders issued an ultimatum, calling the deal impossible.
Diplomats explained to the White House the real situation on the ground. Ukraine continued to fight despite all pessimistic predictions.
The French president stressed:
"We tried, and since then so much has happened. This path is above all and mostly a victory of the Ukrainians in their capacity and reliability. President Trump saw that everything he was being told — that Ukrainians would lose, that they would not make it through the winter — was false."
How Trump's view on Ukraine has changed
Today, the American leader's position is fundamentally different, the French president said. The resilience of the Ukrainian Armed Forces and society forced Trump to reassess his views. Instead of plans for capitulation, respect has emerged, Macron believes.
Trump acknowledged that earlier assessments were wrong. Ukrainians proved their reliability in practice, which changed the geopolitical landscape. According to Macron, Trump now views Ukraine with deep respect: "Now he sees courageous, innovative people whom he respects."
EU's role in Russia–Ukraine negotiations
The French president also believes that Europeans must be at the negotiating table when talks begin, as EU interests are directly linked to developments in Ukraine.
"This is true thanks to the support we have provided, through the enlargement issue that concerns Europeans, and through the financial assistance and loans we have provided," Macron said.
Earlier, Macron stated that US President Donald Trump agreed that Russia had shown no serious willingness to negotiate. He and G7 leaders noted that previous diplomatic efforts had not produced any tangible results.
