French President Emmanuel Macron confirmed on Monday from Washington that the issue of Ukraine ceding territory to Russia was not discussed during a White House meeting hosted by U.S. President Donald Trump.
The summit brought together Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and several European leaders.
Macron told reporters: “We did not talk about this issue at all today.
The priority remains on providing security guarantees.
Such discussions, if they happen, should take place first in a bilateral meeting between Ukraine and Russia, followed by a trilateral summit with the U.S.”
French President: Strong Ukrainian Army Is Key to Peace
The French president emphasized that one of the essential security guarantees for Ukraine is the establishment of a strong military capable of deterring future Russian aggression.
“A powerful Ukrainian army, with no restrictions on numbers, capabilities, or weaponry, must be central to any peace agreement,” Macron said.
He also urged the European Union and its allies to tighten sanctions on Russia if upcoming peace negotiations fail.
“If this process is rejected, we all agree on the need to impose greater pressure on Russia,” he stressed.
Germany Rejects Pressure on Ukraine to Surrender Donbas
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz echoed Macron’s stance, warning that Ukraine should not be forced into territorial concessions in any peace deal.
Speaking after the White House talks, Merz compared Russia’s demands to an unrealistic scenario: “Moscow’s request that Kyiv surrender free parts of Donbas is equivalent to suggesting that the United States give up Florida.”
Merz confirmed that Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Zelensky are expected to meet within the next two weeks, but stressed that territorial concessions were not formally discussed at the Washington meeting.
Trump and the “Land Swap” Proposal
U.S. President Donald Trump once again raised the idea of a potential land swap between Kyiv and Moscow.
According to a diplomatic source, Trump supports a Russian proposal that Ukraine cede Donetsk and Luhansk in the east, while freezing the conflict lines in Kherson and Zaporizhzhia in the south.
A Fragile Path Toward Peace
Both Macron and Merz underlined that the security of Europe depends on a sustainable peace between Russia and Ukraine.
The French President concluded:
“If the war continues, European security will remain at risk.
Our duty is to pursue lasting peace while ensuring Ukraine’s sovereignty and resilience.”
