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DONALD Trump and his old pal Emmanuel Macron locked in an awkward tug-of-war handshake as the pair met for crunch talks on Ukraine.
The Republican welcomed the French President to the White House on Monday as uncertainty chillingly looms regarding the future of transatlantic relations.
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Speaking at a news conference with his "friend" Macron, Trump repeated that the war in Ukraine would "never have happened if I was president".
He said: "It's time to restore peace and I think we're going to do it.
"We have had some great conversations, including with Russia.
"Since my return to the White House, we've made more progress towards that goal in one month that occurred in the past three years."
The Republican added that the focus is now "achieving a ceasefire as soon as possible, and ultimately a permanent peace".
Prior to the news conference, Trump said Russian leader Vladimir Putin would accept European peacekeepers in Ukraine as part of a potential deal to end Russia's war there - and that the war could "end within weeks".
"Yeah, he will accept it," Trump said. "I have asked him that question. Look, if we do this deal, he's not looking for World War."
Trump described the highly anticipated revenue-sharing agreement with Ukraine as "very close" in answering questions from reporters as he and Macron met were pictured laughing in the Oval Office.
"It looks like we're getting very close," Trump told reporters at the start of his bilateral meeting with Macron.
He added that Volodymyr Zelenskyy could potentially visit Washington this week or next to sign the deal
Trump, however, did not say whether the emerging deal would include American security guarantees.
"Europe is going to make sure nothing happens," he said.
Upon being asked whether Ukraine should give up territory as part of an agreement, Trump vaguely replied: "We'll see.
"It's a negotiation that's just starting."
The Republican also refused to call his pal Putin a dictator, having previously used the word to describe Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky.
Ukraine faces greatest peril yet amid Russian onslaught & Trump attacks
He said: "I don't use those words lightly, we'll see how it all works out."
The pair had started the day participating in a virtual meeting with other leaders of the Group of Seven economies - holding crunch talks about the war.
The US President took to his social media platform Truth Social to share how the talks went - adding his conventional brag that the war "would have never started if I was President".
He said in the post: "Today, President Emmanuel Macron of France joined me in the Oval Office to speak to the G7 Summit.
"The meeting was convened by Governor Justin Trudeau of Canada, the current chair of G7, to acknowledge the Third Anniversary of the Russia-Ukraine War – Which would have never started if I was President.
"Everyone expressed their goal of seeing the War end, and I emphasized the importance of the vital 'Critical Minerals and Rare-Earths Deal' between the United States and Ukraine, which we hope will be signed very soon!
"This deal, which is an 'Economic Partnership,' will ensure the American people recoup the Tens of Billions of Dollars and Military Equipment sent to Ukraine, while also helping Ukraine's economy grow as this Brutal and Savage War comes to an end."
The President added that, at the same time, he is in "serious discussions" with Vladimir Putin regarding the ending of the war, as well as "major Economic Development transactions" that will take place between the two countries.
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He finished the post: "Talks are proceeding very well!"
The US failed on Monday to get the UN General Assembly to approve its resolution seeking to end the war without mentioning Russian aggression.
The draft resolution was amended by the assembly adding language making clear that Russia invaded its smaller neighbour in violation of the UN Charter.
The vote in the 193-nation world body on the amended US resolution was 93-8 with 73 abstentions with Ukraine voting yes, the US abstaining and Russia voting no.
It comes after Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and Macron agreed to both discuss showing "united leadership in support of Ukraine".
Both Starmer and Macron went over Russia's "barbaric full-scale invasion" and there were reportedly talks of placing Ukraine in the centre of negotiations.
Starmer shared his commitment to support Ukraine and it was said the UK and Europe must be united against "Russian aggression."
A press release posted on Gov.uk revealed more discussions in the US would take place within the coming week.
A Downing Street spokesperson said: "The Prime Minister spoke with President Macron this afternoon.
"They began by discussing the third anniversary of Russia's barbaric full-scale invasion of Ukraine, which is a stark reminder that we must all work together to put Ukraine in the strongest possible position at this crucial moment for global security.
Who could replace Zelensky?
Names have begun to emerge as to who could replace Zelensky if he were to resign.
Valery Zaluzhny - The Iron General
Zaluzhny led the defence of Kyiv at the start of the war when Russia sent its special forces to their death at Hostomel Airport. Russia then tried to take Kyiv from the north by sending an Army from Belarus.
But the Iron General Zeluzhny is known for thinking outside of the box and has built a cult status in Ukraine.
He is currently the country's ambassador to London.
Vitali Klitschko - The Champion Boxer
Klitschko is currently mayor of Kyiv and, standing at 6ft 7in, the former world boxing champion would be a heavyweight contender.
The boxer has led the city through daily bombardments by Russian drones and has become a powerful symbol of the city's defence joining the territorial defence forces.
Like Zelensky, Klitschko would be a strong pro-European leader that Vladimir Putin would hate.
Viktor Medvedchuk - Putin's Man
Ukrainian oligarch Medvedchuk is the godfather to Putin's youngest daughter.
He was an important interlocutor between Moscow and Kyiv and backs a pro-Russian political party with several television stations he owns.
In 2021, he was arrested on suspicion of supporting Russian separatists - with the oligarch denying any wrongdoing.
The move is said to have infuriated Putin and was seen as one of the possible reasons he launched his invasion.
"The Prime Minister repeated the UK's steadfast commitment to support Ukraine for as long as needed and reiterated the importance of Ukraine being at the centre of any negotiations to end the conflict."
Europe and the UK were said to be looking to scale up to meet security needs, exhibiting further support for Ukraine.
The spokesperson continued: "The UK and Europe must continue stepping up to meet their security needs and show united leadership in support of Ukraine in the face of Russian aggression, which they would both discuss in the US in the coming week.
"The leaders agreed to stay in close contact."
This comes as Volodymyr Zelensky vows to step down as Ukraine's president in exchange for peace or NATO membership.
Trump is holding peace talks without including Kyiv in discussions, and the Ukrainian leader has responded by offering to leave his position if necessary.
The shock remarks were made at a press conference this weekend as he emphasised that Ukraine's security was his priority.
Zelensky said on Sunday: "If it's about peace in Ukraine and you really want me to leave my position, I am ready to do that [in exchange for peace].
"Secondly I can exchange it for NATO [membership].
"If there is such an opportunity I'll do it immediately without a long conversation about it."
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English (US) · 