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Macron: Putin ‘Played’ Trump If No Zelenskiy Meeting
French President Emmanuel Macron warned that Russian President Vladimir Putin would have “played” U.S. President Donald Trump if he failed to commit to a meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy by Monday, the deadline Trump had set for talks. Macron, speaking alongside German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, called Putin’s maneuver “unacceptable” and said Europe would support pressure if negotiations did not move forward.
International Stakes
President Trump had earlier given Putin a one- to two-week window to agree to the meeting, warning of “consequences” if the talks did not take place. Ukrainian President Zelenskiy backed the deadline, stressing that accountability would follow if Russia avoided dialogue.
Need for Security Guarantees
Macron underlined that peace in Ukraine cannot be achieved without firm security guarantees. Both he and Merz indicated they would push Trump over the weekend to ensure Putin followed through. They also signaled that further measures, including sanctions, could be considered if Moscow refused to engage.
