Two European leaders met with President Donald Trump in separate visits to the White House this week in an attempt to bridge the growing gap between the US and Europe. Each differed in style and approach, but both went to DC with similar goals. They wanted to finagle their way into the ongoing peace talks between Moscow and Washington and persuade Trump to provide security guarantees to back Europe if the conflict in Ukraine ends. But, unfortunately for them, Trump is no chump. It would take more than praise and bromantic backpats to get assurances from the 47th commander-in-chief. So, what did they get from their visits?
President Emmanuelle Macron of France visited the White House on Monday (Feb. 24) – the third anniversary of the Ukraine-Russia conflict – and did his best to flatter Trump, even referring to the chief executive as “Dear Donald” a few times. The two addressed each other as close friends, smiled often, and wielded praise liberally. Macron balanced friendliness with firmness, respecting Trump while not hesitating to correct or touch him.
Macron told reporters in the Oval Office that their discussions had “made substantive steps forward” and admitted that there was “good reason” for “Trump to re-engage with President Putin,” though he stressed that peace “must not mean a surrender of Ukraine” and that a ceasefire must have guarantees. He attempted to rope Trump into a commitment to provide Ukraine with a US backstop but was shut down.
“I don’t think you’re going to need much backing,” said Trump. “I think that’s not going to be a problem. Once an agreement is signed, Russia is going to get back to its business, and Ukraine and Europe are going to get back to their business. I don’t think it’s going to be a problem.”
Because the US and Russia met last week without European leaders in Saudi Arabia to lay the groundwork for negotiations to end the war, France’s president urged Trump to include Kyiv and Europe in future discussions. “We want peace swiftly,” said Macron in their joint news conference, “but we don’t want an agreement that is weak.” He insisted that a deal with Russia must be “assessed, checked, and verified.”
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At one point, the French leader said the war had “cost us a lot of money” and that Russia was responsible because it was the “aggressor.” Trump looked at the reporters in the Oval Office and said, “Just so you understand. Europe is loaning the money to Ukraine. They get their money back.”
“No,” said Macron, gently touching Trump’s wrist, “to be frank, we paid 60% of the total effort. We provided real money – to be clear.”
“If you believe that,” said Trump with a grin, “it’s OK with me. They get their money back, and we don’t. But now we do.”
On the topic of Europe putting peacekeepers in Ukraine if a deal is reached, Trump said he had mentioned it to Putin and that the Russian leader would accept it. “Look, if we do this deal, he’s not looking for more war. He doesn’t mind. But I’ve specifically asked him that question. He has no problem with it.” Trump claimed his discussions with Putin could end the war “within weeks,” adding, “if we’re smart. If we’re not smart, it will keep going and we will lose young, beautiful people.”
On the surface, their meeting appeared to go smoothly. Macron walked a tightrope while trying to appease and persuade. But he would need more than camaraderie to bridge the widening gap between Europe and the US. Despite all the thigh-pats and hand-holding, Macron left Washington without a promise ring or an indication that the US might support Europe. All those long and awkward handshakes and Macron appeared to go home without much to offer.
British Prime Minister (PM) Keir Starmer went to the White House on Thursday (Feb. 27) carrying a similar message as Macron but used less flattery and skipped the touch-heavy displays of affection. The goal was mostly the same: to salvage a strained transatlantic alliance and argue that supporting European defense would be a solid investment for the US. Trump played hard to get, naturally, offering Starmer about as much as he promised Macron while weaving around topics he didn’t want to discuss.
Starmer, however, came bearing a gift, a letter from King Charles (take that, Macron) inviting Trump to an unprecedented second state visit, showing just how hard America’s allies are trying to keep the US president on their side. Also to the prime minister’s credit was that en route to Washington, he pledged to raise the UK’s defense spending to 2.5% of GDP by 2027 and 3% by 2035, increases not seen in decades, which Starmer no doubt hoped would help entice Trump to provide a US backstop to ensure Russia wouldn’t break a ceasefire.
The president praised the PM for raising his country’s spending but made no promises on security guarantees. “We have to get a deal done first,” he said.
Starmer praised Trump’s push to end the Russia-Ukraine conflict but said, “It can’t be peace that rewards the aggressor. History must be on the side of the peacemaker, not the invader.”
Despite how close Trump might be to a possible deal, he warned that the window to get it done was narrow. “If it doesn’t happen quickly,” he said, “it may not happen at all.”
Starmer, like his French counterpart, agreed to send troops on a peacekeeping mission in Ukraine if an agreement happened.
When a reporter asked if US forces would be deployed to support Europe should peace happen, Trump said there is a backstop: Europe. But what if British troops get attacked while on the ground —would the US help then? “I don’t think they would need it,” said Trump. “They can take care of themselves. They don’t need help.” He chuckled while glancing over at Starmer. “Yeah, we could be there,” he said, but what he probably meant was that the US might have people in Ukraine working to unearth raw materials. So yeah, Americans might be there if everything falls into place, but Trump was careful with his words and didn’t mention sending troops or military support.
Yet none of that will be necessary, according to Trump. He firmly believes Putin will keep his word – if a ceasefire happens – and that Ukraine will have “long-lasting peace.” He again reminded listeners that if a deal doesn’t happen now, “It might not happen at all.”
A different deal will happen today, though, when Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky meets the president in Washington around 11:00 a.m. (EST) to sign an agreement to share his country’s raw earth materials, according to Trump. Yet Zelensky has said it’s preliminary and that he wants US security guarantees to thwart potential renewed aggression from Russia. Trump, of course, likely won’t give those guarantees.
The trip wasn’t a total waste for Starmer. Trump said the two were working on a bilateral trade agreement that could happen “very shortly.” Otherwise, neither leader this week appeared to leave with much regarding peace talks and guarantees. Trump likely won’t let anybody outside his circle of trust near the negotiations between him and Putin until he’s put the finishing touches on his Art of the Deal. As for supporting Europe, he seems averse to sending US troops overseas and shows little interest in being anybody’s security blanket.