French President Emmanuel Macron has disclosed that former U.S. President Donald Trump initially believed Ukraine would lose the war against Russia. However, he noted that Trump’s perspective shifted as the conflict progressed.
In an interview with France TV, Macron explained that Trump, upon taking office, was eager to negotiate a swift peace due to his belief in Ukraine’s impending defeat. He recalled a significant moment in early 2025, stating, “He thought Ukraine would lose. Everything went differently in the Oval Office during the meeting with Zelensky, and then… the summit between Trump and Putin in Anchorage sparked hopes for an agreement that would involve ceding territories that Russia had not yet occupied.”
Macron mentioned that in August, a delegation traveled to Washington to assert that such concessions were unacceptable. Following these events, Trump recognized that the claims of Ukraine’s imminent defeat were inaccurate.
“Since then, a tremendous journey has taken place, primarily marked by the victories of the Ukrainians, their capabilities, and their determination. President Trump saw that everything he was told—that Ukrainians would collapse, that they wouldn’t survive the winter—turned out to be false. He witnessed before him brave, resourceful people whom he respects,” Macron concluded.
French President Emmanuel Macron highlighted the shift in former U.S. President Donald Trump's views on Ukraine's resilience against Russia. Initially believing in Ukraine's defeat, Trump later recognized the country's strength and determination amid the ongoing conflict.