French President Emmanuel Macron said Friday that Russian President Vladimir Putin would play a trick on U.S. President Donald Trump if he did not commit to negotiations with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky by Monday.
“If this is not done by Monday, the deadline set by President Trump, then President Putin has played another trick on him,” Macron said during a joint press conference with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz.
A reporter outside the White House asked Stephen Miller, Trump’s deputy chief of staff, on Friday: “Is that true?”
Miller replied: “What a ridiculous question! President Trump has concluded seven peace agreements in seven months. No president in history has done more to advance the cause of peace. Many world leaders have nominated him for the Nobel Peace Prize.”
Miller added: “He is clearly working hard to end the massacres in Ukraine.”
Why It Matters
Last month, Trump complained that the Russian president “talks nice and then bombs everyone.” He has also criticized Ukraine for its attacks, and the Trump administration has not publicly condemned Russia’s massive missile and drone attack on Ukraine Wednesday night, which killed at least 23 people.
White House Press Secretary Carolyn Levitt suggested Thursday that Ukraine was attacking Russian oil refineries.
What To Know
Trump has warned of unspecified “consequences” if Putin and Zelensky do not meet. On Friday, Zelensky recalled Trump’s earlier remark that he would give Putin one to two weeks to agree to a bilateral meeting before considering new action against Moscow.