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French President Emmanuel Macron and UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer believe that the most important outcome of the White House talks was the United States’ readiness to work on security guarantees for Ukraine.
Their remarks are cited by CNN.
Macron stated that the main result of the White House talks was the U.S. readiness to work on the content of security guarantees for Ukraine.
“We agreed on several important points that just a few days or weeks ago were not as clear,” he said.
The French president emphasized that the “first and most important” point is the U.S. commitment to further developing security plans.
“Today it was agreed that we will work with the United States of America on the content of these security guarantees and on the cooperation that each side is ready to provide,” Macron said.
He noted that the “coalition of the determined,” which European leaders have been forming since February, currently numbers 30 countries, reflecting the expansion and strengthening of support for Ukraine’s security.
“Any negotiations between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky must first take place in a bilateral format, and only then in a trilateral one, with the participation of U.S. President Donald Trump,” Macron believes.
The French president added that such talks could only take place under a ceasefire.
“Call it a truce or a ceasefire, but we cannot negotiate under bombs,” he said.
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, for his part, stated that “real progress” had been achieved during the White House meetings, noting that they yielded concrete results on security guarantees.
“Today’s meeting was constructive, and there was a genuine sense of unity between the European leaders present and Presidents Trump and Zelenskyy,” he said.
As reported, the multilateral talks between the leaders of Ukraine, the U.S., the European Commission, NATO, and several European states were interrupted so that Trump could call Vladimir Putin.
Afterwards, Trump announced that he had a “very good” meeting with the leaders of Ukraine, France, Finland, Italy, the UK, Germany, the European Commission, and the NATO Secretary General. He also declared that he was beginning preparations for a trilateral meeting with Zelenskyy and Putin.
Finnish President Alexander Stubb revealed additional details of the White House meeting, outlining three main outcomes.
He said this in an interview with CNN.
Stubb stated that three key results emerged from the hours-long discussions. According to him, the first was the conversation on security guarantees.
“The first was a substantive discussion about security guarantees for Ukraine, agreed between Europe and the United States, and we are beginning concrete work on this immediately,” he said.
The second, Stubb noted, was the proposal to hold a bilateral meeting between President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin, which U.S. President Donald Trump then raised in a phone call with Putin — and Putin agreed.
“The third point is that after the bilateral meeting, if everything goes well — and that is, of course, a big ‘if’ when you’re dealing with Putin — there will be a trilateral meeting,” the Finnish president said.
He noted that after the call, the American president invited European leaders into the Oval Office, where he briefed them on his conversation with the Kremlin leader. At the same time, Stubb did not disclose details.
“In diplomacy, everything that happens in the Oval Office stays in the Oval Office, unless the press is there,” he remarked.
The Finnish leader also commented on Trump’s words that Putin wants to make a deal “for himself,” noting that Trump is sincerely trying to end the war, but Putin’s strategic goals remain unchanged.
“They are threefold: he wants Russia to be perceived as a superpower, he seeks to divide the West, and he wants to deny Ukraine’s sovereignty. This is the reality we are dealing with,” he acknowledged.
Comparing Finland’s situation after World War II, when his country lost part of its sovereignty and territory, with Ukraine’s current situation, Stubb highlighted the key difference: Ukraine is not alone.
“Then Finland was on its own. Ukraine is not. I consider it extremely important that all of us — Team Europe and Team USA — continue working for Ukraine’s independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity. Honestly, I am convinced that if we manage to create security guarantees, they will ensure sovereignty and strengthen territorial integrity,” he added.
“We are here as allies and friends,” Ursula von der Leyen said.
The President of the European Commission shared a message after the meeting in Washington. She posted a photo of European leaders together with Donald Trump in the White House with the caption:
We are here as allies and friends for peace in Ukraine and Europe. This is an important moment, as we continue to work on reliable security guarantees for Ukraine and the establishment of a strong and lasting peace, — Ursula von der Leyen noted.
Expectations were not only met, but also exceeded, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz after the meeting in the White House concluded.
According to the politician, these days will be decisive for Ukraine. He also doubted whether Putin would have the courage to come to the summit, where Volodymyr Zelenskyy will be present.
Merz welcomed the statement by US President Donald Trump on providing security guarantees to Ukraine and called on all European countries to join this process.
Russia’s demand that Ukraine withdraw its troops from Donbas is comparable to the demand that the US give up, say, Florida,” Merz stated.
German Chancellor Merz also stressed that any territorial concessions should not be imposed on Ukraine.
Read also: Trump begins preparations for Zelenskyy–Putin meeting to be held in two stages
