By Akshit Tyagi
French President Emmanuel Macron and U.S. President Donald Trump revealed stark differences in their approach to the Ukraine conflict during their recent meeting on Tuesday, highlighting a widening gap between the United States and Europe over Trump’s push for a swift ceasefire with Russia.
While both leaders maintained a cordial tone, their disagreements were clear as they marked three years since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Trump, who last week referred to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky as a “dictator,” avoided labelling Russian President Vladimir Putin in the same way. Macron, in contrast, firmly stated that “Russia is the aggressor” and criticised any ambiguity on the matter.
At a joint press conference, Macron said, “President Putin violated the peace,” while Trump reiterated his desire for an immediate ceasefire and even suggested he could travel to Moscow to meet Putin once an agreement is in place. Macron, however, advocated for a more structured approach, beginning with a truce followed by a peace deal with strong security guarantees.
“We want peace, he wants peace. We want peace swiftly, but we don’t want an agreement that is weak,” Macron stated, stressing the need for any peace deal to be “assessed, checked, and verified.”
The U.S. has recently changed its approach to the war in Ukraine. Under President Donald Trump, instead of strongly supporting Ukraine as before, the U.S. is now pushing for a peace deal without directly blaming Russia for the war.
This change has caused tension with European allies like France and the UK, who believe Russia must be held accountable. French President Emmanuel Macron has insisted that any peace agreement must respect Ukraine’s borders and should not reward aggression.
At the United Nations, the U.S. opposed a resolution calling for Russia’s immediate withdrawal from Ukraine. Instead, it introduced a new resolution calling for peace but omitting any mention of Russia’s role in the war. This move has worried European nations, who fear it could weaken the international response to military aggression.
Australia has not changed its stance on Ukraine. The government has made it clear that it continues to support Ukraine’s right to defend itself. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, Defence Minister Richard Marles and Foreign Minister Penny Wong have issued a joint statement on the anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said,
“Australia stands with Ukraine in their struggle, which is a struggle not just for their own national sovereignty, but it’s a struggle to stand up for the international rule of law.”
Even the Opposition Leader Peter Dutton has commended Ukraine for its “bravery and fortitude” in their fight against a “murderous dictator”.
“From President Zelensky down, the bravery and fortitude that has been demonstrated is something that has inspired the world. This is a fight for civilisation; it’s a fight against a dictator – a murderous dictator – and I think all Australians value the fact that, right from the very start, we have stood with Ukraine and should continue to do so.”
Since the war began, Australia has sent more than $1.5 billion in military and humanitarian aid to Ukraine, including armoured vehicles, weapons, and financial assistance.
However, Australia’s position may create challenges in its relationship with the U.S. Unlike before, Canberra is now aligning more with European allies on Ukraine rather than following Washington’s lead. Former Prime Minister Tony Abbott criticised Trump’s approach, saying that Russian President Vladimir Putin started the war and should be held accountable.
“Let’s be very clear, Putin started this war. Russia started this war, and anyone who thinks otherwise is living in fantasy land,” the former Prime Minister told Times Radio.
Former Australian PM @HonTonyAbbott called on Britain to take the lead in protecting Ukraine even without a US backstop – but said all the free countries of the world should be "prepared to make a stand"
— Sky News (@SkyNews) February 18, 2025@SophyRidgeSky
https://t.co/LokC9r4oko pic.twitter.com/Q2vNcGEfZM
Australia has traditionally relied on the U.S. for security. However, Trump’s shift on Ukraine raises questions about how much Australia can count on American leadership in future conflicts.
Despite this, Australia must start relying more on other allies, such as European countries, Japan, and regional partners. This would ensure Australia is not left vulnerable if U.S. foreign policy changes again in the future.
By refusing to directly condemn Russia, the U.S. may be sending a message that military aggression will not always be punished. Some analysts worry that this could encourage other powerful nations to test the limits of international law.
For example, China has been closely watching how the world responds to Ukraine. Some experts believe that if Western countries are divided over Ukraine, China might feel more confident about making aggressive moves towards Taiwan.
Australia, as a supporter of the international rules-based order, has a strong interest in ensuring that countries cannot simply take land by force. However, without clear backing from the U.S., it may be harder for Canberra to defend these principles on the global stage.
The divide in the Western alliance over Ukraine shows that Australia needs to carefully consider its next steps. While the U.S. remains an important ally, Canberra may also need to strengthen ties with other nations to ensure its security and global influence.
By working closely with European countries and Indo-Pacific allies, Australia can continue to support democracy, international law, and peace, regardless of how U.S. foreign policy shifts in the future.
Contributing Author: Akshit Tyagi has worked full-time as a business and financial journalist in India for Republic TV and part-time for other esteemed news media organisations. You can follow Akshit on X @AkshitTyagii.
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