US President Donald Trump and his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron commented on the possibilities for ending the war in Ukraine. This happened during Macron's visit to the White House on the day that marks three years since the beginning of the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

Trump stated that he expects to visit Ukraine this week or next to sign an agreement giving Washington access to Kiev's minerals.

The Republican hailed his French counterpart as a "very special man" as the two shook hands in the Oval Office.

"I think we can end it (the war - ed.) within weeks if we are smart. If we're not smart, it will continue," Trump said.

The US president added that Russian President Putin was ready to "accept" European peacekeepers deployed in Ukraine as guarantors of the agreement to end hostilities.

He also stressed that he was making a "decisive break" with Washington's traditional foreign policy, which he called "very foolish."

"My administration is making a decisive break with the foreign policy values of the previous administration and, frankly, of the past. I confronted a very stupid foreign policy establishment," Trump added.

Macron said both leaders want a "solid and lasting peace," announced that Europe is ready to "increase" defense spending and reiterated that Europe is ready to deploy peacekeepers.

He added that he wanted "strong" US involvement in any such plan.

Both Macron and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer - who is visiting the White House on 27 February - said their countries were ready to provide peacekeeping troops in Ukraine if there was an agreement.

At the same time, the French head of state said that a future peace agreement cannot come at the price of Kiev's capitulation. Macron warned that the world order cannot be based on the "law of the strongest."

"This peace cannot mean the capitulation of Ukraine," the French president said.

Macron flew to Moscow weeks before Russia invaded Ukraine three years ago in a failed attempt to dissuade Russian President Vladimir Putin. Like then-U.S. President Joe Biden, Macron soon cut off contact with Putin.

But he said there had been a "big change" since there was a new US administration.

"There is good reason for President Trump to resume contacts with President Putin," Macron said.

"In 2014, our predecessors negotiated peace with President Putin, but because of the lack of guarantees and especially security guarantees, President Putin broke that peace. That is why being strong and having the capacity to deter is the only way to make sure it will be respected," he said. | BGNES