According to various sources, in addition to this meeting, the three leaders met with other European heads of State present in Johannesburg, where the world’s major economies and the European Union and African Union blocs are convening.

President Donald Trump, the proponent of the plan to halt the war between Ukraine and Russia, was notably absent.

Paris, London, and Berlin are demanding the participation of the old continent in the initiative, once again sidelined by the White House chief in his negotiations to bring Moscow and Kyiv to the negotiating table with the aim of ending the conflict.

In this South African city, Macron stated that “there can be no peace in Ukraine without the Ukrainians and without respect for their sovereignty.”

Trump’s peace plan was met with skepticism by European powers that favor strengthening Ukraine’s military and accuse Russia of having expansionist aims. Moscow responds that it is its security that is threatened by the attempt to bring NATO even closer to the borders of Russia.

The 28-point initiative stipulates that Crimea, Donetsk, and Luhansk will be recognized de facto as Russian regions; Ukraine will be barred from NATO membership, a fact enshrined in its Constitution, but will be allowed to join the European Union; and it must reduce its army to a limit of 600,000 troops.

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