French President Emmanuel Macron called for “lasting, solid peace” in Ukraine during a joint press conference with his US counterpart, Donald Trump, in Washington, D.C., on Monday. “This peace must not mean a surrender of Ukraine,” Macron told reporters, held in the White House’s East Room. “It must not mean a ceasefire without guarantees. This peace must allow for Ukrainian sovereignty and allow Ukraine to negotiate with other stakeholders regarding the issues that affect it. But is also a country in which we need to shoulder our responsibility so that we ensure security and stability for Ukraine and for the entire region. And for us Europeans this is an existential issue.” Trump was asked directly if he would call Putin a “dictator” – as he did with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky last week. Trump declined to do so. “I don’t use those words lightly,” Trump said. “I think we’re going to see how it all works out.” (The White House via Storyful)

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