How do Europe talk to Trump? Macron tried to flatter and have gentle resistance.

France’s President Emmanuel Macron corrected him with a smile in Washington on Monday, giving President Trump a picky tone. That one or two flattering and gentle resistance is an example of how some European leaders try to approach the United States in a vibrant moment.

The question is whether it will work.

Mr Macron four times called Trump “Dear Donald” at a joint press conference on Monday, while highlighting the shared history between France and the United States – and highlighting the two leaders discussing sustainable and strong peace Progress has been made in the agreement for Ukraine.

But even though he sticks to the script and emphasizes common goals and values, Mr. Macron shows that he is willing to back down.

When Mr. Trump claimed in the Oval Office that Europe would “get their money back” because they provided support for Ukraine’s support, Mr. Macron interjected in a friendly tone, saying: “We provide the truth.” Money.” Unlike Mr. Trump, Mr. Macron clearly labeled Russia as the invader of Ukraine. Later, before returning to France, in an interview with Fox News’ “Special Report”, Mr Macron rigorously criticized threats to counterproductive tariffs on European consumer goods. “If we are in a trade war, how do you want us to increase our spending on security and defense?” he asked.

With Ukraine’s all-out war entering its fourth year, with the United States’ support for the conflict and the continent as a whole, Europe faces a tall challenge.

Mr Macron’s trip is part of a series of European diplomacy held this week in Washington, with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer expected to meet with Mr Trump on Thursday, EU’s top diplomat Card Kaja Kallas toured with government officials.

Mr Macron is expected to report to the European heads of state on Wednesday regarding his visit with Mr Trump. Mr Stamer will meet with a group of leaders in London on Sunday, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk said on Tuesday.

On the same day, Britain announced an increase in military spending. Leaders in Britain and Europe are increasingly talking about defense as both groups recognize that they may need to step into any invalid America in which they are ineffective.

EU leaders will hold a special summit on March 6 to support Ukraine and strengthen Europe’s defense, and the leaders promise to focus on more detailed plans.

Even if they map their own paths, European officials are eager to keep the United States involved and active. The U.S. military capacity and funding are crucial to supporting Ukraine’s resistance, a key trading partner of the 27-member EU. EU leaders often stress that the deterioration of transatlantic relations is ineffective.

The American tone shift was so sudden and distinct that it put Europe in a defensive state. Mr. Trump has thoroughly criticized European allies in recent days and weeks, while making increasingly friendly proposals to Russia. In his complaint, Trump has long insisted that European countries spend more on their own security – a message delivered by Mr. Macron in particular.

The French president has demanded for years that Europe has more “strategic autonomy” and less military dependence on the United States, which is usually a skepticism of some of France’s neighbors. He once again emphasized Mr. Trump.

“Everyone in Europe now knows that it is our responsibility as Europeans,” Macron said in Washington. “Europeans are ready to do more.”

Mr Macron said Europeans could send troops as part of Ukraine’s future peace agreement – ​​not on the frontline of conflict, but as peacekeeping forces – and the United States would take action to support this approach with “unity”.

There are few details on how the United States can do it. If necessary, Europe will need a large number of troops, money and time to develop the capabilities needed to support Ukraine and defend itself independently. This helps explain why officials softly urged the United States to continue to participate and why they reminded U.S. officials that they did this for their own benefit.

“Authorities around the world are very concerned about whether there is impunity,” European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said in the Ukrainian capital Keefe on Monday.

“It’s not only crucial for Europe,” she added. “It’s also important for both sides of Asia, Africa and the Atlantic.”

It is unclear whether Mr. Macron and other European leaders can influence Mr. Ukraine, as U.S. leaders championed Russian President Vladimir Putin and redefined the relationship. The statements and actions issued by Washington have made European officials concerned that Trump would engage in a quick peace deal with Russia without having to include Ukraine and other European leaders, laying the foundation for a truce, which made Kiev vulnerable and boosted Mr. Putin. Europeans, in turn, fear that other countries will be at risk on the African continent.

On the surface, both Mr. Trump and Mr. Macron both smiled brightly and shook hands firmly during the French presidential visit. They spoke to each other as close friends, recalling past meetings – including the 2017 Bastille Day party and the reopening of Notre Dame Cathedral last year – and hosted a multi-century French-American coalition .

“France and I always stand on the same side, and the right is historical,” Macron said. “This is the danger today.”

He was careful not to directly confront Mr. Trump and repeatedly made a positive spin on the U.S. leader’s latest proposal to Russia.

Mr. Macron criticized himself for announcing to Putin early in the war before taking a more difficult route – calling the discussion with Russia “useful”. He even had a discussion of the mineral agreement, which was a good signal, told Fox News in an interview that it was one of the “best ways to ensure the United States’ commitment to “Ukrainian sovereignty.”

However, after United’s call for peace, there is a clear view on how to get it. Mr. Trump advised: “If we are smart, we can end it in a few weeks.” Mr. Macron repeatedly hammered his message: Don’t rush.

Mr Macron said peace does not mean “submission” from Ukraine, adding that Ukraine should not put Ukraine in trouble without security guarantees to stop future Russian aggression.

As a cautionary tale, Mr Macron repeatedly mentioned the 2014 and 2015 ceasefire agreements, namely the Minsk Accords, which were forged after Russian-backed separatists attacked and captured territory in eastern Ukraine. These transactions failed to prevent Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

“Russia violated it every time and we didn’t react,” Macron said.

In France, the friendship between the two men is seen as a superficial display, with little paper on the growing rifts in the Transatlantic Union.

Libération, a left-leaning daily, said the leader’s “outer smile” of “the wall is rising” between Europe and the United States. Conservative Daily Le Figaro pointed out that Mr Macron did not receive “firm assurance” of Trump’s continued support.

Le Monde, one of France’s leading newspapers, announced in an editorial that “hope is slim” in terms of reasoning with Mr. Trump, Europe may need to “be ready to fight”.