Trump discovers talking with Macron about potential Putin peace deal

president Donald Trump A whisper to French President Emmanuel Macron was heard in a hot microphone moment, who thought Russian President Vladimir Putin wanted to reach a peace deal with the “American leader” – noting that intuition even sounded “crazy” to him.

“I think he (Putin) wants to make a deal. I think he wants to make a deal for me, you know?” Trump told Macron on Monday, ahead of a multilateral meeting with European leaders. “Sounds crazy.”

Top European leaders gathered at the White House on Monday when Trump held a highly anticipated meeting with the Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy It is hoped that a peace agreement will be reached between Russia and Ukraine in the war in the winter of 2022.

Trump spoke with European leaders after meeting with Zelenskyy, which included a discussion on “the security assurance of Ukraine, which will be coordinated by various European countries with the United States of America.”

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European Leader Those attending the meeting at the White House on Monday included Macron, Finnish President Alexander Stubb, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte.

Macron joined NBC News after the White House meeting and was asked about Trump’s comments about him.

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“What’s in your mind when he says this to you?” NBC’s Kristen Welker asked Macron after reading a transcript of Trump’s exchange with Marcon earlier that day.

President Donald Trump spoke with French President Emmanuel Macron about his belief that Russian President Putin wants to reach a peace deal with Ukraine. (Alexander Drago/Reuters)

Macron celebrates the exchange, evidence of Trump’s conviction, and the war between Ukraine and Russia will end.

“At the end of the day, if we make a deal that fits this long-term and powerful peace, that’s good news,” Malcon said in an interview on Monday. “In fact, your president is very confident in his ability to have to complete this deal. It’s good news for all of us and I can say this daily killing could break that.”

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Asked about the popular Mike exchange, a White House spokesman told Fox News numbers that Trump was the only world leader to get Putin to the negotiating table because the war lasted for more than three years.

“As President Trump said, he has a good relationship with President Putin, and only he can bring President Putin to the table for a peace deal,” the spokesman said. “The European leaders recognize that after three years of killing and impasse under Joe Biden’s weak situation, the president’s leadership has made more progress than ever before because of the ability to lead the president.”

Trump joined Fox and Friends Tuesday morning and said he intends to have Putin meet one-on-one with Zelenskyy and then have peace talks that could include land swaps.

“They are not the best friends,” Trump said Tuesday.

President Donald Trump held a meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and held a handful of European leaders at the White House on August 18, 2025, including French President Macron. (Win McNamee/Getty Images)

“Perhaps they get along a little better than I thought. Otherwise, I wouldn’t set up two meetings (of which ones) I would set up one (triangle meeting).”

Trump added that negotiations will not include recognition Ukraine enters NATObut said some European countries have agreed to provide NATO-like protection, including security assurances.

Returning from Alaska, Trump has held key foreign policy negotiations on the Ukrainian war from the week

Trump met in Alaska on Friday, which did not reach a peace deal, but opened the door to deeper peace talks after Trump’s campaign track promised to end the bloody war that began during his presidency.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy met with Donald Trump at the White House on August 18, 2025, with the U.S. president hoping to reach a peace deal between Russia and Ukraine. (Ukrainian President/Handout/Anadolu via Getty Image)

Trump called Putin at a White House meeting on Monday and set up a table for the meeting between Putin and Zelensky.

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“At the end of the meeting, I called President Putin and started to arrange for President Putin and President Zelenskyy“Trump takes the next step on Monday night to take peace measures.” After the meeting, we will have a triangle that will be two presidents, plus myself. Again, this is a very good early step that has been going on for nearly four years. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Special Envoy Steve Witkoff Vice President JD Vance are coordinating with Russia and Ukraine. Thank you for your attention to this matter! ”

Taylor Penny of Fox News Digital contributed to the report.