Photo: Sarsenov Daniiar/Ukraine Presidency/Planet Pix/ZUMAPRESS/picture alli
French President Emmanuel Macron called his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelensky on the evening of February 28, after the US President Donald Trump had controversially received him. This was reported by Financial Times journalist Christopher Miller, citing sources around the Ukrainian leader.
It is unclear what exactly Zelensky and Macron discussed on the phone. However, FT added that after their conversation, the Ukrainian president also called NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte. The content of this conversation is also currently unknown.
One day earlier, Rutte announced that the North Atlantic Alliance was preparing a new aid package for Ukraine, including "billions of euros" and contributions for security guarantees. The NATO Secretary General made this statement after a phone conversation with Trump, and Rutte himself assessed it as "excellent".
The meeting between the presidents of Ukraine and the US ended in controversy
Volodymyr Zelensky and Donald Trump met on February 28 at the White House in Washington. The two leaders were expected to sign an agreement on natural resources between the US and Ukraine. However, the meeting took place in a heated tone: Zelensky was forced to argue with Trump and US Vice President Jay DeVens and left the White House early. However, no contract was signed.
During the meeting, Trump accused Zelensky several times of ingratitude. "You could provoke a Third World War. And what you are doing is a deep disrespect to a country that supports you more than most," said the US president, threatening to withdraw from negotiations regarding Ukraine if an agreement was not reached.
After the meeting, Zelensky expressed gratitude for the assistance shown by America and reminded that "Ukraine needs a fair and strong peace, and we are acting precisely for this purpose".
Many European politicians, including Emmanuel Macron, supported the Ukrainian leader after the controversy with Trump. "The aggressor is Russia. The victim of aggression is Ukraine. We must thank those who have helped, but we must respect those who have fought from the very beginning," said the French president.
