French President Emmanuel Macron is expeced to meet Donald Trump at the White House next week, a US official said Wednesday, as Europe scrambles to respond to the US president's shift on the war in Ukraine.
"President Macron is expected at the White House early next week," a White House official told the French news agency AFP Wednesday evening on condition of anonymity.
Meanwhile, Volodymyr Zelensky also said last night, Wednesday, that he will meet US envoy Keith Kellogg on Thursday and is hoping for "constructive" work with the US.
"We are scheduled to meet with General Kellogg tomorrow, and it is very important for us that the meeting and our work with America in general be constructive," Zelensky said in his daily evening address on Wednesday.
European fears mount at Munich conference as US signals shift on Ukraine
Europe and Ukraine
This as French President Emmanuel Macron on Wednesday held a new meeting on Ukraine in a bid to coordinate a European response to what he called an "existential threat" from Russia after a shock policy shift in Washington.
He said France and its allies agreed Ukraine's rights and European security concerns should be taken into account in any deal to end the Ukraine war, ahead of him travelling to Washington next week.
"The position of France and its allies is clear and united. We wish for peace in Ukraine that is lasting," Macron said on X after the meeting with the leaders of 19 countries including Canada, with most taking part by video link.
Macron held the new meeting on Ukraine on Wednesday afternoon in a bid to coordinate a European response to what he has called an "existential threat" from Russia after the shock US policy shift.
"We stand by Ukraine and will carry out all our responsibilities to ensure peace and security in Europe," Macron said after the video conference call.
But he said participants, which included the heads of state or government of EU nations but also Iceland and Norway, stressed Ukraine should be included and "its rights respected" in the process.
They said "robust and credible guarantees" were needed to ensure a lasting deal, and "European security concerns" would need to be taken into account.
"We are convinced of the need to increase our defence and security spending and capacities for Europe and each
Macron was speaking to leaders of 19 countries including Canada, with most taking part by video link, according to the presidency.
Coordinated response
Urging a coordinated response to Washington's apparent pivot towards Moscow, Macron had already on Monday hosted key European leaders as well as NATO and EU chiefs for emergency talks.
Several smaller European countries including Romania and the Czech Republic were reportedly aghast at not having been invited to that gathering despite being strong supporters of Ukraine, leading Macron to convene the Wednesday meeting.
Romania's interim president Ilie Bolojan and Luxembourg's Prime Minister Luc Frieden were present in person at the meeting on Wednesday afternoon, the presidency said.
The leaders of Lithuania, Cyprus, Finland, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, Estonia, Greece, Ireland, Island, Latvia, Norway, Portugal, Sweden, Slovenia and the Czech Republic also joined via video conference call.
Hungary and Slovakia, whose prime ministers are seen as close to Putin, as well as NATO member Turkey, whose President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is eager to act as a mediator, were not on the list of participants.
Europe scrambles to boost defence as US wavers on Ukraine support
European 'frustration'
French daily Le Monde earlier pointed to the "frustration of the European countries" not invited to Monday's talks.
But Le Monde also said that the leaders of some of these countries were in a difficult political situation as they were "confronted with a strong increase in pro-Russian forces on their domestic political scene".
France has been one of Ukraine's main Western backers since Russia unleashed its full-scale invasion of its neighbour in February 2022.
"Russia poses an existential threat to Europeans," Macron said in an interview with French regional newspapers published on Tuesday.
"Do not think that the unthinkable cannot happen, including the worst."
Macron appeared open to the idea of sending forces to Ukraine but emphasised that this could take place only in the most limited fashion and away from conflict zones.
France, along with Britain, were considering sending "experts or even troops in limited terms, outside any conflict zone," he said.
Trump caused consternation on Tuesday by blaming Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky for Russia's invasion.
France delivers first Mirage 2000-5 fighter jets to Ukraine amid uncertainty over US support
French government spokeswoman Sophie Primas said on Wednesday that Trump's comments were part of a series of "incomprehensible" remarks that raised questions about the "coherence" of the US position on Ukraine.
Difficult choices
Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot said France may have to make some difficult choices.
"Russia has decided to make enemies of us, and we must open our eyes, realise the scale of the threat and protect ourselves," he told broadcaster RTL.
"If we do nothing, if we remain blind to the threat, the front line will move ever closer to our borders."
To keep up the pressure on Moscow, EU countries on Wednesday agreed a new round of sanctions on Russia, diplomats said.
(With newswires)
