France and Britain have put forward a proposal for a partial one-month truce between Russia and Ukraine that would exclude ground combat, French President Emmanuel Macron revealed in an interview with Le Figaro on Sunday, March 2.
The proposed truce would focus on halting air, sea, and energy infrastructure attacks. Macron acknowledged the challenge of monitoring compliance along the front line, which he compared in length to the distance between Paris and Budapest.
Macron’s comments came as he traveled to London for a high-level meeting of European leaders, convened by British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, to push forward discussions on a Ukraine peace plan.
Diplomatic Push Following Trump-Zelensky Dispute
The London summit follows Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s recent meeting with former U.S. President Donald Trump at the White House, which ended in turmoil. In response, global leaders have reaffirmed their support for Ukraine and pledged further assistance.
Under the Franco-British proposal, European ground troops would only be considered in a later phase, Macron clarified.
“There will be no European troops on Ukrainian soil in the coming weeks,” Macron told Le Figaro. “The key question is how to use this time to secure a truce, initiate negotiations over several weeks, and ultimately deploy troops once a peace agreement is reached.”
When asked in London about his awareness of the plan, Zelensky simply responded: “I’m aware of everything.”
Macron Calls for Increased Defense Spending
Macron also emphasized the need for greater defense spending among European nations, suggesting that military budgets should reach approximately 3% to 3.5% of GDP. Additionally, he urged the European Commission to explore innovative approaches to funding defense efforts.
