Emmanuel Macron, Biden Vows Unity On Ukraine, Move To End Subsidy Tensions

On a state visit from Emmanuel Macron, the French leader, President Biden said he would talk to Vladimir Putin, Russia’s president, but only in consultation with NATO allies and only if Putin indicated he was “looking for a way to end the war.” It was a significant show of trans-Atlantic unity. Macron said that France would increase its military support for Ukraine and “will never urge Ukrainians to make a compromise that will not be acceptable for them.” In effect, the two leaders met each other halfway, with Biden showing more openness to a negotiated settlement and Macron showing more unequivocal support for the Ukrainian cause. French officials said that during their meeting, the two leaders agreed that more Ukrainian battlefield gains would constitute important leverage in any talks with Moscow.