Macron Reaffirms Commitment to Ukraine Ahead of Trump-Putin Talks
Macron said he had spoken again with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, and UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer. The talks, he noted, focused on strengthening unity among allies and building on the work of the so-called Coalition of the Willing.
ERBIL (Kurdistan24) — French President Emmanuel Macron said Saturday that France and its allies remain firmly committed to supporting Ukraine, stressing that the country’s future must be determined by Ukrainians themselves and not imposed from outside.
In a statement posted on his official X account, Macron said he had spoken again with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, and UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer. The talks, he noted, focused on strengthening unity among allies and building on the work of the so-called Coalition of the Willing.
“Ukraine’s future cannot be decided without the Ukrainians, who have been fighting for their freedom and security for over three years now,” Macron said, adding that Europe would “necessarily be part of the solution” given its own security interests. He pledged to continue close coordination with Zelensky and European partners in the coming weeks.
I have just spoken again with President Zelensky, as well as with Chancellor Merz and Prime Minister Starmer.
— Emmanuel Macron (@EmmanuelMacron) August 9, 2025
We remain determined to support Ukraine, working in a spirit of unity and building on the work undertaken within the framework of the Coalition…
The remarks come amid heightened diplomatic activity over the war in Ukraine. U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin are scheduled to meet in Alaska next Friday, August 15, to discuss the future of the conflict. Trump announced the meeting on his Truth Social platform, with the Kremlin later confirming it through a spokesperson.
The planned meeting is expected to draw close attention from European capitals, where concerns remain that any bilateral U.S.-Russia talks could sideline Kyiv or lead to arrangements that compromise Ukrainian sovereignty. The war, now in its fourth year, has seen repeated waves of fighting, shifting front lines, and continued Russian missile and drone strikes on Ukrainian cities.
Since the start of the Russian military operations in Ukraine in February 2022, France has provided military aid, humanitarian assistance, and training for Ukrainian forces, alongside broader European and NATO efforts to bolster Kyiv’s defenses. Macron’s latest statement underscores his government’s position that any peace process must be shaped with — and not merely for — Ukraine.