**Macron to Meet Trump in Washington**
French President Emmanuel Macron is set to meet US President Donald Trump in Washington. This will be their first one-on-one meeting since the US president returned to the White House.
**Warning Trump on Putin**
Before the meeting, Macron warned Trump about appearing weak to Russian President Vladimir Putin. The warning comes after the US held direct talks with Russia for the first time since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Macron said that if Trump appears weak to Putin, it will be bad for him in his dealings with China.
**Presenting European Proposals**
Macron is also expected to present European proposals to achieve peace in Ukraine. Trump had previously accused Macron of doing nothing on the matter. The meeting takes place on the third anniversary of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
**European Leaders Show Support**
Other European leaders have been in Kyiv, showing support for Ukraine. They want a peace deal that involves Ukrainians and Europeans around the table, not just negotiated with Russia.
**Macron’s Strategy**
Macron knows Trump from his first term in office and is using an appeal to Trump’s ego to persuade him. He wants to show Trump how weak he would look if he treats Putin too kindly. If Trump appears weak to Putin, he will lose respect from China, Iran, and other enemies.
**A Last Chance Mission**
Macron’s visit is also a fact-finding mission for Europe. The international community is “bewildered” by the new alliance between Putin and Trump. Macron wants to understand what the future of Nato is and what plans are being made.
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