Trump Expresses Hope Russia’s War In Ukraine Is Nearing An Endgame As He Meets With France’s Macron

WASHINGTON, DC – FEBRUARY 24: U.S. President Donald Trump and French President Emmanuel Macron shake hands during a joint press conference in the East Room at the White House on February 24, 2025 in Washington, DC. Macron is meeting with Trump in Washington on the third anniversary of Russia’s full-scale military invasion of Ukraine. (Photo by Tasos Katopodis/Getty Images)

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump says he’s hopeful Russia’s war in Ukraine is nearing an endgame as he meets with French President Emmanuel Macron on the third anniversary of the Russian invasion. But France’s leader cautioned Monday that it’s crucial that any potential agreement with Moscow does not amount to surrender for Ukraine. Trump said he believed Russian President Vladimir Putin would accept European peacekeepers in Ukraine. Trump also said he hoped the conflict can end within weeks and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy will soon come to the U.S. to sign a deal to give America access to Ukraine’s critical minerals. Amid deep uncertainty about the future of transatlantic relations, France and the U.S. were at loggerheads at the United Nations.