In a series of meetings at the White House, President Trump and French President Emmanuel Macron addressed the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. During their joint press conference, Trump remarked on the war as ‘a horrible, bloody mess’, while Macron emphasized that any peace deal should not equate to a surrender of Ukraine. Macron interrupted Trump to clarify that European financial support to Ukraine should not be viewed as a loan, highlighting a stark contrast in their perspectives on the conflict. Despite the friendly atmosphere, the two leaders exhibited notable differences regarding strategies for securing peace and ensuring US support for Ukraine during this critical time. Macron pursued strong security guarantees and aims to strengthen transatlantic ties amidst fears of a weakened US commitment to European security.