Macron says Trump ‘electroshock’ EU

(MENAFN) French President Emmanuel Macron has described Donald Trump’s return to the White House as a much-needed "electroshock" for the European Union, urging the bloc to take greater responsibility for its own defense and the future of Ukraine. In a recent interview with the Financial Times, Macron said that Trump's actions should prompt the EU to become more self-sufficient in defense and revive its economy, reducing reliance on the US and China.

Macron argued that the traditional model of relying on cheap Russian gas, the US for security, and the Chinese market is no longer viable. He urged the EU to invest more in its own defense capabilities, specifically advocating for the Franco-Italian SAMP-T air defense system, which he argued is superior to the US-made Patriot system used by several EU countries.

His comments followed a phone call between Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin, where the two leaders discussed beginning negotiations to resolve the Ukraine conflict. Although some EU leaders expressed concern about Washington making concessions to Putin before talks officially begin, Macron was not surprised by Trump’s decision to take a direct role in peace negotiations. He stated that Trump had created a "window of opportunity" for a negotiated solution, but emphasized that only Ukraine's President Vladimir Zelensky has the authority to negotiate a settlement.

Macron also warned that any peace that involves Ukraine’s capitulation would be detrimental to all parties involved. A "high-level" meeting between US and Russian representatives is expected to take place at the Munich Security Conference on Friday, where discussions on a potential resolution to the Ukraine conflict will be held.

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