Macron vows Europe will ‘more fairly’ contribute aid after Trump meeting — warns Ukraine peace must be ‘checked and verified’

French President Emmanuel Macron said Monday that Europe is “well aware” that it needs to “do more” for its own security and defense in response to Russia’s war on Ukraine — and admitted that the continent should “more fairly” share the “security burden” with the US.

“We have the same wish,” Macron told President Trump at a joint news conference after the two men met for around two hours in the Oval Office. “Peace as soon as possible, lasting, solid peace for everyone, and the renewal of an international situation where we are all able to shoulder our responsibilities; Europeans shouldering their responsibilities alongside their American allies who will shoulder their own responsibilities.

“I also wanted to be very clear, Mr. President, about Europe’s commitment,” Macron added. “We have committed to build a lasting peace. As Europeans, we have committed to being stakeholders in these security guarantees, and we are also well aware that Europeans need to do more for security in Europe, for defense in Europe and to more fairly share the security burden that your country has been carrying for so many years.”

The meeting was dominated by the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the third anniversary of which was marked on Monday.

Macron was also the first leader to meet with Trump since the American president referred to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky as a “dictator” and suggested that Kyiv had “started” the war, shocking European opinion.

Macron, who called an emergency meeting of continental leaders last week in response to Trump’s comments, said Monday the discussion had helped bridge any gaps between the two men.

“After speaking with President Trump, I fully believe that there is a path forward,” the French president said. “We share the same beliefs and we know what work needs to be done, and in the weeks to come, we will work on that, and our teams will come together in various formats to make sure we have this solid, lasting peace with great strength.”

However, the Frenchman warned that any deal to end Europe’s largest and deadliest war in eight decades would have to be “assessed, checked and verified.”

Macron also reiterated France and other European countries would be open to sending peacekeeping troops to Ukraine once an end to the war is negotiated — but he added that the US would need to provide “backup, because this is part of the credibility of the security guarantees.

Trump was also on board with the Europeans sending peacekeeping troops to Ukraine, telling reporters before the Oval Office meeting that Russian President Vladimir Putin had assured him there would be “no problem” with the prospect — despite the Kremlin previously saying NATO-affiliated troops would be “unacceptable” in Ukraine.

Trump, for his part, called the conversation with Macron “another important step forward” and said that he believes the French leader is in lockstep “on many of the most important issues.”

The US president has repeatedly insisted that each of America’s 31 NATO allies up their defense spending to as much as 5% of their annual gross domestic product — well above the bloc’s own guideline of 2%.

“The cost and burden of securing the peace must be borne by the nations of Europe, not alone by the United States, and Europe must take that central role in assuring the long-term security of Ukraine, which they want to do,” Trump told reporters.

“And that’s not a very big step,” he added. “A big step is what’s going to happen over the next few weeks. The United States has put up far more aid for Ukraine than any other nation.”

Trump also commented on a rare-earth mineral deal that he wants Zelensky to sign as a form of repayment for American taxpayers.

“I think we’ve made a lot of progress,” Trump said of the proposal that was first shot down by Zelensky last week, adding that he hoped Zelensky would come to Washington “this week or next week” to formalize an agreement.