Macron Says Trump is Delivering an ‘Electroshock’ to the EU
The French president has urged the EU to interpret Trump’s actions as a wake-up call and to take responsibility for its own security. Read Full Article at RT.com
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French President Emmanuel Macron has referred to the return of Donald Trump to the White House and his recent actions as U.S. president as an “electroshock” intended to prompt the EU to take control of its own security and the future of Ukraine.
In an interview with the Financial Times published on Friday, shortly after Trump spoke with Russian President Vladimir Putin, Macron urged the EU to “muscle up” on defense and revitalize the economy. He emphasized the need for the bloc to embrace the “strategic wake-up,” take on more responsibility for its security, and decrease its dependence on both the U.S. and China.
“It is an electroshock. We need asymmetric shocks, we need external shocks. It is an exogenous shock for Europeans,” Macron told the FT.
He stated that the previous model, in which the EU relied on the Chinese market as an “outlet,” the “American umbrella” for security, and “cheap Russian gas” for energy and production, is no longer viable.
Macron called for the EU to diminish its reliance on U.S. weaponry and urged members to invest in the Franco-Italian SAMP-T air defense system, which he claimed is “better” than the U.S.-made Patriot system used by several EU nations.
These comments follow a conversation between Trump and Putin, where they reportedly agreed to negotiate a resolution to the conflict in Ukraine. The two leaders talked for nearly 90 minutes by phone on Wednesday, marking the first known direct engagement between the Russian and U.S. presidents since hostilities escalated in 2022.
The Financial Times noted that some EU nations have voiced criticism toward Washington for seemingly making concessions to Putin prior to any negotiations. Many EU leaders felt sidelined by Trump’s willingness to directly discuss a peace plan with his Russian counterpart; however, Macron expressed that he was “not surprised” by the U.S. president’s actions.
Trump has opened a “window of opportunity” for a negotiation, where “everyone has to play their role,” Macron stated.
Nonetheless, Macron emphasized that only Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky has the authority to negotiate with Russia to end the conflict. He cautioned that a “peace that is a capitulation” would result in “bad news for everyone.”
On Friday, a “high-level” meeting between Russia and the U.S. is expected to occur at the Munich Security Conference. Trump informed reporters that American representatives will be meeting with their Russian counterparts to discuss a resolution to the Ukraine conflict, adding that “Ukraine is also invited.”
Allen M Lee for TROIB News
In an interview with the Financial Times published on Friday, shortly after Trump spoke with Russian President Vladimir Putin, Macron urged the EU to “muscle up” on defense and revitalize the economy. He emphasized the need for the bloc to embrace the “strategic wake-up,” take on more responsibility for its security, and decrease its dependence on both the U.S. and China.
“It is an electroshock. We need asymmetric shocks, we need external shocks. It is an exogenous shock for Europeans,” Macron told the FT.
He stated that the previous model, in which the EU relied on the Chinese market as an “outlet,” the “American umbrella” for security, and “cheap Russian gas” for energy and production, is no longer viable.
Macron called for the EU to diminish its reliance on U.S. weaponry and urged members to invest in the Franco-Italian SAMP-T air defense system, which he claimed is “better” than the U.S.-made Patriot system used by several EU nations.
These comments follow a conversation between Trump and Putin, where they reportedly agreed to negotiate a resolution to the conflict in Ukraine. The two leaders talked for nearly 90 minutes by phone on Wednesday, marking the first known direct engagement between the Russian and U.S. presidents since hostilities escalated in 2022.
The Financial Times noted that some EU nations have voiced criticism toward Washington for seemingly making concessions to Putin prior to any negotiations. Many EU leaders felt sidelined by Trump’s willingness to directly discuss a peace plan with his Russian counterpart; however, Macron expressed that he was “not surprised” by the U.S. president’s actions.
Trump has opened a “window of opportunity” for a negotiation, where “everyone has to play their role,” Macron stated.
Nonetheless, Macron emphasized that only Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky has the authority to negotiate with Russia to end the conflict. He cautioned that a “peace that is a capitulation” would result in “bad news for everyone.”
On Friday, a “high-level” meeting between Russia and the U.S. is expected to occur at the Munich Security Conference. Trump informed reporters that American representatives will be meeting with their Russian counterparts to discuss a resolution to the Ukraine conflict, adding that “Ukraine is also invited.”
Allen M Lee for TROIB News
