French President Emmanuel Macron acknowledged on Sunday the “legitimate emotion” and “doubt” surrounding U.S. support for Europe following a dramatic confrontation between Donald Trump and Volodymyr Zelenskyy. However, he urged both leaders to reopen dialogue.
“Beyond the anger, everyone needs to return to calm, respect, and recognition so that we can move forward concretely,” Macron stated. He also emphasized his belief that “disengaging from Ukraine is not in [America’s] interest” and expressed his hope that the U.S. would recognize this.
The shocking confrontation at the White House has left many European leaders questioning whether the U.S. remains a reliable ally.
François Bayrou, a veteran French politician, commented on the situation, stating, “There were two victims in this scene—the security of Ukraine, which is fighting for its survival, and a certain idea of the alliance we had with and around the United States.” He further criticized what he described as an attempt to impose new, unacceptable standards on Europe, saying, “We are being asked to abandon our concern for decency and accept the indecency they would like to impose on us.”
Bayrou made these remarks ahead of a debate in the French parliament’s lower chamber, where opposition leaders gathered to discuss European security and the ongoing crisis in Ukraine in a non-binding parliamentary session.
Leave a Reply