Donald Trump and Emmanuel Macron. President Donald Trump and French President Emmanuel Macron in the East Room at the White House on February 24, 2025 in Washington, DC. Tasos Katopodis/Getty Images
France's President Emmanuel Macron has said that Europe, not Washington, will decide the future of the continent and added that there would be a response to tariffs imposed by the Trump administration.
In a televised address only days after receiving a warm reception from President Donald Trump at the White House, Macron cast doubt on the U.S. administration's ability to defend Europe as he outlined the danger posed by Russia in light of its full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
However, former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev responded by mocking Macron as someone who posed no threat himself and would soon disappear from the political scene.
Newsweek has contacted the White House and the Kremlin for comment.
Why It Matters
Europe has frantically attempted to back Ukraine as the Trump administration's support for Kyiv's fight against Russian drains away. The EU and the U.K have agreed to increase defense spending as British and French leaders reportedly seek to present their version of a peace plan to Trump.
What To Know
Macron outlined what Europe should do in the face of the threat posed by Russia, which he said represented a genuine danger to the continent's security, given that U.S. military support is no longer guaranteed. The French president made these key points:
Vladimir Putin Cannot Be Reasoned With
Macron said that Russian President Vladimir Putin had made his full-scale invasion of Ukraine into a global conflict in which he draws upon North Korean soldiers and Iranian equipment, all the while helping Western adversaries to arm themselves more.
The French president said that Russia has violated borders to kill opponents; has manipulated elections in Romania and Moldova; organizes cyberattacks; and spreads misinformation on social media. This is why Russia is unlikely to stop at Ukraine and, in the years to come, will be a threat to France and Europe.
The U.S. Is Withdrawing Its Support for Europe
Macron said that he wanted to believe that the United States would stand by Europe, but the continent must be ready if it doesn't. This follows the pause by the Trump administration of aid and intelligence for Ukraine, pending a review.
Macron said the future of Europe did not have to be decided in Washington or Moscow and that "the innocence" of the last 30 years, since the fall of the Berlin Wall, was now over.
The French president also said that there would be a response to Trump's decision to impose tariffs on trading partners, a move he described as "incomprehensible."
France Must Defend Itself
Macron touted France's armed forces and outlined how he had asked his government to be mobilized to strengthen the French military as quickly as possible, which would require new budgetary choices and additional investments.
He said this could be achieved via private and public financing without increasing taxes, and he would be discussing this with ministers and business leaders in the coming days.
France May Extend Its Nuclear Umbrella
The French president said his country would look at extending the protection of its nuclear arsenal to its allies. Germany's likely next chancellor, Friedrich Merz, has advocated for talks with France and Europe's other atomic power, the United Kingdom, to extend their nuclear deterrence.
Macron had floated the idea last month, telling Portuguese TV that, if European leaders wanted to move toward greater autonomy, "we must open that discussion."
Meeting of Leaders
Macron said that he would invite European leaders to a meeting in Paris to discuss a peace plan for Ukraine next week. This may include deploying peacekeeping troops to the country to stop Putin from invading again.
What People Are Saying
French President Emmanuel Macron said: "The United States, our ally, has changed its position on this war, is less supportive of Ukraine and is casting doubt on what will happen next … I want to believe that the United States will remain by our side, but we need to be ready if that were not the case."
Former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev said: Macron "poses no big threat though. He'll disappear forever no later than May 14, 2027. And he won't be missed."
Elina Beketova, democracy fellow at the Center for European Policy Analysis (CEPA), told Newsweek : "In the long term, Ukraine needs both Europe and the U.S. to continue supporting its efforts to repel Russian aggression. U.S. support is vital for both Ukraine and Europe."
What Happens Next
The French president's address outlined how Europe must be prepared to fill in the security gaps left by the U.S. and reinforces a plan presented by the European Commission to rearm the EU and support for Ukraine worth 800 billion euros ($860 billion).
Elina Beketova, democracy fellow at CEPA, told Newsweek before Macron's speech that this was a positive move but, in the long term, Ukraine still needed both Europe and the U.S. to repel Russian aggression.
"It will be very difficult without American support, which is why I hope sustainable peace can be achieved with U.S. backing," Beketova said.
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This story was originally published March 6, 2025 at 4:54 AM.