French President Emmanuel Macron utilized his visit to the United States to push back against President Donald Trump’s repeated criticisms of Ukraine, fact-checking the American leader in real-time during a joint appearance at the White House.
As Trump reiterated his grievances about European contributions to Ukraine while making claims about repayment, Macron interjected, stating, “No, in fact, to be frank, we paid. We paid 60% of the total effort.” He clarified that Europe, like the U.S., had provided real financial support through loans, guarantees, and grants.
After Macron’s remarks, Trump reacted with a smile, responding, “If you believe that, it’s okay with me.” In a separate interview with Fox News, Macron urged Trump to “be careful” regarding the discussions with Russia aimed at resolving the ongoing conflict, without the direct involvement of Ukraine or European allies.
Macron described Trump’s potential return as a “game-changer,” acknowledging the U.S.’s deterrent capacity to engage with Russia. He emphasized the necessity for substantial support for Ukraine as talks progress.
Trump’s ongoing demands for Ukraine to repay U.S. aid have strained relationships between America, Ukraine, and European allies. The White House is working on a deal that would grant the U.S. access to hundreds of billions of dollars in Ukrainian resources as part of Trump’s agenda to recoup wartime investments. Ukrainian officials indicated that this deal is nearing finalization.
On Monday, Trump announced he plans to meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy soon, suggesting that Zelenskyy may travel to Washington to sign the agreement. “I will be meeting with President Zelenskyy. In fact, he may come this week or next week to sign the agreement,” Trump stated.
The president also reiterated his belief that Ukraine’s handling of U.S. aid has been unfair, inaccurately claiming that the U.S. provided $350 billion in assistance—a figure disputed by Zelenskyy. The Kiel Institute for the World Economy estimates U.S. commitments to be around $119 billion, with $67 billion allocated for military equipment.
Meanwhile, European nations, including the EU, the U.K., Iceland, Norway, and Switzerland, collectively contributed approximately $138 billion in aid, with $65 billion designated for military support.
Credit: ABC News
