Donald Trump meets with Emmanuel Macron as uncertainty grows about US ties to Europe and Ukraine

President Trump is altering U.S. foreign policy and, in seeking a swift end to Russia's war in Ukraine, is effectively sidelining European leadership. His approach has raised concerns about the relationship between the U.S. and its European allies, as well as the potential impact on global stability.

The two leaders participated in a virtual meeting lasting over two hours with other leaders of the G7 economies on Monday (early Tuesday AEST) to discuss the war. Trump also put forward demands for territory, including Greenland, Canada, Gaza, and the Panama Canal, along with valuable rare earth minerals from Ukraine.

More than a month into his second term, the president, who espouses an "America First" policy, has cast a long shadow in the eyes of veteran U.S. diplomats and former government officials over America's role as a calming force for global stability and continuity. Despite some notable issues, the United States' military, economic, and moral power has been dominant in the post-World War II era, especially after the Cold War ended with the collapse of the Soviet Union.

There are fears that all of this could be lost if Trump gets his way, with the U.S. abandoning the principles upon which the United Nations and numerous other international institutions were founded. "The only conclusion you can draw is that 80 years of policy against aggressors is being overturned without any discussion or reflection," said Ian Kelly, who served as U.S. ambassador to Georgia under Obama and in Trump's first administration and is now a professor at Northwestern University.

The Republican president hosted Macron on Monday (Tuesday AEST), the third anniversary of the war in Ukraine, and is scheduled to meet with another key European leader, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, on Thursday (Friday AEST). Regarding the mineral deal, Zelensky initially expressed dissatisfaction, stating that it lacked security guarantees for Ukraine.

Another point of conflict was the U.S.'s failure to secure United Nations General Assembly approval for its resolution calling for an end to the war but omitting any mention of Moscow's aggression. The assembly approved a European-backed Ukrainian resolution demanding Russia's immediate withdrawal from Ukraine. This marked a setback for the Trump administration in the 193-member world body, whose resolutions are not legally binding but are seen as a barometer of world opinion.

Macron said he intends to tell Trump that it is in the shared interest of Americans and Europeans not to show weakness to Putin in U.S.-led negotiations to end the war in Ukraine. He also hinted that he would raise how Trump's handling of Putin could have a significant impact on the U.S.'s dealings with China, its most important economic and military competitor.

Ukraine marked the bleakest anniversary of its war against Russia's invasion on Monday, with its forces under immense pressure on the battlefield, in addition to the apparent acceptance of Russian policies by the Trump administration. The three-year milestone drew more than a dozen Western leaders to Kyiv for commemorations in a show of apparent solidarity. They warned of the war's broader implications for global security and pledged continued billions in aid to Ukraine as uncertainty deepened over the commitment of U.S. assistance.