Macron and Trump Hold Talks as Ukraine Seeks Security Guarantees

French President Emmanuel Macron met with U.S. President Donald Trump at the White House for discussions coinciding with the third anniversary of Russia’s large-scale assault on Ukraine.

During a summit of Western leaders in Kyiv, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky expressed hope that the war could conclude within the year rather than dragging on for several more. 

However, he emphasized the need for security guarantees to ensure Russia does not regroup and launch further attacks. 

He reiterated that Ukraine’s membership in the European Union and NATO would serve as a protective measure—an idea that Moscow has consistently opposed.

Zelensky also suggested that a potential path to peace could begin with a comprehensive exchange of prisoners of war.

In a related development, a Ukrainian official indicated that negotiations between Ukraine and the United States were nearing completion on a minerals trade agreement.