French President Emmanuel Macron has warned that Russia could face tougher sanctions if President Vladimir Putin refuses to pursue peace with Ukraine.
Speaking after high-level talks at the White House, Macron said Western allies were prepared to escalate pressure if diplomatic efforts stall.
“President Trump believes we can reach an agreement and that President Putin also wants a peace accord,” Macron told reporters. “But if this process is met with refusal, we must be ready to increase sanctions.”
The French leader pointed to recent U.S. secondary sanctions imposed on India, a major buyer of Russian oil, as an example of effective pressure. “These measures have already had significant impact,” Macron noted.
The renewed push for peace follows a flurry of diplomacy in Washington. Last week, U.S. President Donald Trump hosted Putin for talks in Alaska, and three days later invited Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to the White House.
While Trump has publicly urged Kyiv to consider territorial concessions — a position aligning more closely with Moscow than with Zelenskyy — Macron stressed that the issue of concessions was not discussed in Washington.
Instead, he emphasized that both the U.S. and Europe agree Ukraine must retain the right to build a strong military capable of defending itself against future Russian aggression.
Looking ahead, Macron revealed that discussions are underway for a potential three-way summit between Trump, Putin, and Zelenskyy within the next two to three weeks. “We hope Russia and Ukraine will resume direct contact in the coming days,” he said.
