US President Donald Trump’s proposed peace plan for Ukraine requires major improvements before it can gain acceptance from Kyiv and European nations, French President Emmanuel Macron said on Tuesday.
Speaking to RTL radio, Macron said the 28-point US proposal, unveiled last week, had caught officials in the US, Ukraine, and across Europe by surprise. The plan has fuelled concerns that Washington may be willing to pressure Ukraine into accepting terms seen as favouring Moscow.
“It’s an initiative that goes in the right direction towards peace,” Macron said. “However, there are aspects of that plan that deserve to be discussed, negotiated, and improved. We want peace, but we don’t want peace that is effectively a capitulation.”
Europe Rejects One-Sided Settlement
Macron stressed that only Ukrainians could decide what territorial concessions they are ready to make. He said the plan appeared to reflect Russian preferences rather than a balanced settlement.
“What was put on the table gives us an idea of what would be acceptable to the Russians,” Macron said. “Does that mean that it is what must be accepted by the Ukrainians and the Europeans? The answer is no.”
He noted that any durable peace must ensure Ukraine’s ability to defend itself. “Ukraine’s first line of defence in case of peace with Russia would be regenerating its own army, and there can be no limit on it,” he added.
The French leader also pointed out that frozen Russian assets are held in Europe, meaning only Europe has the authority to decide how those assets are used.
Disagreement Over Army Limits and Frozen Assets
Under the US plan, Ukraine’s army would face restrictions on its size, and Washington would gain partial control over frozen Russian funds. European governments have expressed unease with those conditions, warning they could weaken Ukraine’s security and sovereignty.
A few hours before a video call with the so-called “coalition of the willing” a group of countries coordinating assistance for post-war Ukraine Macron outlined how a reassurance force might function once hostilities cease.
“There are British, French, and Turkish soldiers who, the day peace is signed so not in a context of war would be there to conduct training and security operations, as we do in some countries on NATO’s eastern flank,” he explained.
Coalition Nations Pledge Post-War Support
Macron added that roughly 20 countries had already expressed readiness to contribute to Ukraine’s post-war security. “We have about 20 countries that have already said what they are prepared to do actively, either in the air, on land, or at sea,” he said.
European leaders are expected to continue discussions in the coming days on how to coordinate long-term support for Ukraine while ensuring that any peace framework maintains Kyiv’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.
(with inputs from Reuters)
