Germany's likely next chancellor, a conservative, Friedrich Merz warned Europe should seek "independence" from the US as it grapples with the Trump administration's lack of support for Ukraine. France's Prime Minister Emmanuel Macron made very clear he believes Putin was "the aggressor" in Ukraine.

Europe’s leaders are caught between the need to boost their defence spending in a hurry, and their tight finances. The European leaders gathered by French President Emmanuel Macron on Monday at a rapidly convened summit in Paris may have debated the creation of a joint borrowing vehicle that would help shore up their militaries while mutualising the associated fiscal cost.

Watch live as President Donald Trump and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer hold a joint press conference. Starmer's trip, coming a few days after French President Emmanuel Macron's visit, reflects the mounting concern felt by much of Europe that Trump's aggressive push to find an end to Russia’s war in Ukraine signals his willingness to concede too much to Russian President Vladimir Putin.

During a meeting in the Oval Office, French President Emmanuel Macron corrected President Donald Trump when he suggested that Europe offered a loan to Ukraine. Macron responded by correcting Trump, saying that in fact,

In a conversation between President Trump and French President Emmanuel Macron in the Oval Office Monday, the two leaders seemed friendly even when they appeared far apart on the war in Ukraine.

French President Emmanuel Macron said Monday that Europe is “well aware” that it needs to “do more” for its own security and defense in response to Russia’s war on Ukraine — and admitted that the continent should “more fairly” share the “security burden” with the US.

French President Emmanuel Macron arrived at the White House to try and persuade U.S. President Donald Trump to continue defending Ukraine — and keep Europe at the negotiating table.

French president meets Donald Trump at the White House amid concerns in Europe over US relations, support for Ukraine.

French President Emmanuel Macron traveled to Washington seeking to convince U.S. President Donald Trump to stand by Europe’s side in his talks with Russia about ending the war in Ukraine