Macron Warns Against ‘Unjust Peace’ for Ukraine, Says Reduced Aid Risks Another War

French President Emmanuel Macron on Saturday warned that countries seeking to reduce military and financial assistance to Ukraine were effectively pushing Kyiv towards an “unjust peace”, which could pave the way for another war.

In a statement posted on social media, Macron said such an approach would not only undermine Ukraine but also threaten Europe’s wider security.

“Those who want to ration aid to Ukraine wish underneath it all to force an unjust peace on it,” Macron said, adding that such a settlement would have consequences for the entire continent.

He described the approach as a sign of defeat and warned that it could lead to renewed conflict, stressing that France could not support such a position.

His remarks come as the United States intensifies diplomatic efforts to end the war, which began with Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Saturday that Washington had proposed that Kyiv surrender territory to Moscow in exchange for Ukraine’s membership in NATO.

US envoys Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff held separate meetings with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Zelensky on Thursday, following two days of negotiations in Abu Dhabi that failed to produce a major breakthrough.

However, the discussions resulted in an agreement to involve European countries more directly in future negotiations aimed at ending the conflict.

At a meeting in Dublin on Friday, European leaders selected five countries — France, Germany, Italy, the United Kingdom and Poland — to send representatives to the negotiations.

Macron stressed that Europe must have a central role in efforts to secure a fair and lasting peace in Ukraine.

He argued that the outcome of the war directly affects European security and that supporting Ukraine’s ability to defend itself is also essential to protecting France.

The French president further called on Ukraine’s allies to clearly communicate their vision for the country’s postwar future, including their expectations of Washington regarding Europe’s long-term security arrangements.

Macron also expressed scepticism about Russian President Vladimir Putin’s willingness to negotiate, accusing Moscow of attempting to weaken Ukraine through intensified drone and missile attacks on civilian areas and energy infrastructure as winter approaches.

He said Ukraine’s partners must therefore maintain financial assistance and continue helping the country protect its population and critical energy facilities.

Macron emphasised that sustained support for Ukraine, particularly the protection of power plants and electricity networks, remains essential to preventing further deterioration of the country’s humanitarian and security situation.