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French President Emmanuel Macron said Ukraine’s battlefield resilience, Europe’s willingness to shoulder more responsibility, and Russia’s failure to honor its commitments have led to a “real change” in U.S. President Donald Trump’s approach toward Ukraine.
Speaking to France 2 on June 19, Macron said Trump initially believed Ukraine would lose the war and therefore sought a rapid peace agreement, UATV English reports.
“He thought Ukraine would lose. That is why he wanted to make peace quickly. Think back to January and February 2025 — it feels like a lifetime ago. He thought Ukraine would lose. Things went very badly in the Oval Office with President Zelenskyy,” Macron said.
According to the French leader, “a tremendous journey” has taken place since then, beginning with Ukraine’s own achievements.
“That journey is first and foremost a victory for Ukrainians — in their capabilities and their power of persuasion. President Trump saw that everything he had been told, that Ukrainians would collapse and would not survive the winter, was false. Instead, he saw courageous, innovative people whom he respects,” Macron said.
He highlighted Ukraine’s technological capabilities and domestic defense production, particularly in drone warfare.
“Today, this is a drone war, and Ukraine’s production capabilities in this area are impressive,” he said.
Macron said a second factor was Trump’s realization that European countries are prepared to take greater responsibility for supporting Ukraine and providing future security guarantees.
“What has been built over recent months — the Coalition of the Willing — was created by Europeans, together with several allies such as Canada, Japan, and Australia, who are standing alongside Ukraine and saying: ‘We will build these security guarantees for the day after peace,’” Macron said.
The third factor, according to the French president, was Trump’s evolving understanding of Russia.
He said the U.S. leader had come to see that Moscow was not honoring its promises and that Russia’s version of peace effectively meant Ukraine’s capitulation.
“So yes, during this G7 there was a real change, one that should be welcomed, and it represents genuine progress,” Macron concluded.
Earlier, Macron said that following increased coordination among the United States, Europe, and G7 nations in support of Ukraine, it is now up to Russian President Vladimir Putin to indicate whether he is ready to return to negotiations without what the French leader called “unacceptable conditions.”
