An earlier meeting with Donald Trump, at the expense of close cooperation with the United Kingdom, in an attempt to influence negotiations between the United States and Russia on the fate of Ukraine. French President Emmanuel Macron's visit to the White House on Monday, February 24, comes three days before British Prime Minister Keir Starmer's visit to Washington, announced on Thursday. One after the other, the two leaders will seek the same objective: To put the Europeans back into the diplomatic game initiated by the sudden rapprochement between Washington and Moscow, who have been quick to exclude them from the discussions intended to put an end to the war, three years after Russia's invasion.

Macron nevertheless insisted on a tête-à-tête with the Republican leader, Le Monde can confirm. Trump's declarations, increasingly aligned with those of Moscow, are of the utmost concern to Europeans. The meeting is a way for Macron to assert his continental leadership on European security issues, as Germany prepares to change its chancellor following the victory of Friedrich Merz in Sunday's elections. "Macron wanted to be first and only one in the photo," a source told Le Monde, while the Elysée denied any attempt to go it alone. "A joint visit was never envisaged," a diplomat said.

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