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Macron Reveals Phone Call with Trump About Potential Ukraine Ceasefire

Published January 19, 2026, 12:22
Macron Reveals Phone Call with Trump About Potential Ukraine Ceasefire

New, previously unpublished footage reveals a phone call between Emmanuel Macron and Donald Trump on May 10th, in which Macron informed Trump about Zelenskyy's agreement to a 30-day ceasefire in Ukraine under European auspices and US monitoring. Trump, enthusiastic, suggested Zelenskyy be awarded the Nobel Peace Prize and praised Macron. However, hopes for a ceasefire were quickly dashed just hours later, as Putin rejected the agreement and proposed direct negotiations in Istanbul. These talks failed, as did subsequent attempts in June. This episode adds to previous revelations of phone conversations between Macron and Putin, where the French president had expressed strong disagreements with his Russian counterpart. In a previous phone conversation, shortly before the Russian invasion, Macron had accused Putin of violating international law, to which Putin responded that the Zelenskyy government was not democratically elected. This discussion escalated into tension, with Putin stating he had to go to hockey practice, ignoring calls for a meeting with then-US President Joe Biden. These revelations highlight Macron's efforts to achieve peace in Ukraine, but also the difficulties he faces in approaching Putin. Trump's reaction, while enthusiastic, underscores the uncertainty surrounding the possibility of peace in the region.