**Macron Says Trump Now Understands Putin’s Deception on Ukraine Peace**
French President Emmanuel Macron has stated that US President Donald Trump now recognizes Vladimir Putin’s dishonesty about Russia’s willingness to pursue peace in Ukraine. This comes after a phone call between Trump and Putin, followed by Trump’s initial statement that Putin wants peace and declined to impose new sanctions on Russia.
However, during a private call with European leaders, Trump acknowledged for the first time that Putin is not ready to end the war in Ukraine because he believes he is winning. Macron expressed his view that Trump now recognizes Putin’s deception, saying “I think that President Trump realizes that when President Putin told him he was ready for peace, he lied to him.”
**Trump Condemns Putin’s Actions**
Trump has shifted his public stance on Putin, condemning his actions in Ukraine. He characterized the Russian leader as “absolutely crazy” and said he is needlessly killing many people. Trump also criticized Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, saying his statements cause problems and demanding they stop.
Despite this criticism, Trump’s words have been met with skepticism by some experts. Valerii Pekar, a Ukrainian scholar, has challenged what he sees as a fundamental misconception in Trump’s remarks. Pekar argues that Russia never functioned as a democracy, except for a brief transitional period after the Soviet collapse. He described Russia’s political system as historically characterized by predatory authoritarianism, placing Putin within a pattern of rulers including Ivan the Terrible and Stalin.
**Macron Calls for Action**
The French president has joined other European leaders in calling for a deadline to be set for Putin to implement a ceasefire. Macron emphasized that this must happen, with the prospect of massive retaliation if it is not met. He also expressed hope that Trump’s anger over Russian attacks would translate into concrete action.
Pekar warned that viewing Putin’s regime as a temporary deviation from democratic norms could lead to significant geopolitical miscalculations. He argued that Russia’s political system has always been characterized by authoritarianism, and that this must be actively confronted rather than simply waited out.
**A Shift in Trump’s Stance**
Trump’s response to the 25 May Russian missile and drone attack that killed at least 12 Ukrainian civilians marked a shift in his public stance toward Putin. He questioned what had happened to the Russian leader, stating he was killing many people and that he did not approve of such actions.
On his Truth Social platform, Trump escalated his criticism further, writing that Putin had “gone absolutely CRAZY” and was “needlessly killing a lot of people.” The US president described missiles and drones being fired into Ukrainian cities “for no reason whatsoever.”
Despite this shift in language, it remains to be seen whether Trump’s words will translate into concrete action.
Read More @ euromaidanpress.com
