STORY: U.S., France align on Ukraine-Russia peace but split over aid fairness
SHOOTING TIME: Feb. 24, 2025
DATELINE: Feb. 25, 2025
LENGTH: 0:01:35
LOCATION: Washington D.C.
CATEGORY: POLITICS

SHOTLIST:
1. SOUNDBITE 1 (English): DONALD TRUMP, U.S. President
2. SOUNDBITE 2 (French/English interpretation): EMMANUEL MACRON, French President
3. various of Donald Trump and Emmanuel Macron

STORYLINE:

U.S. President Donald Trump and visiting French President Emmanuel Macron on Monday agreed on realizing lasting peace between Ukraine and Russia, but Macron publicly refuted Trump's claim that the situation was "unfair" to the United States in terms of how the country and its European allies provided aid to Ukraine.
   
During a joint press conference after a bilateral meeting at the White House, Trump said that he believed Macron agreed with him on many important issues. "Chief among them is -- this is the right time (to end the Ukraine-Russia conflict). It may be the only time," he said.
   
SOUNDBITE 1 (English): DONALD TRUMP, U.S. President
"I believe that Emmanuel agrees with me on many of the most important issues. Chief among them is -- this is the right time. It may be the only time, you know. That's a very interesting and horrible situation and that could evolve into a third world war. We're not going to let that happen."

SOUNDBITE 2 (French/English interpretation): EMMANUEL MACRON, French President
"I think we've made very substantive steps forward during our discussions, and this is a major step. This peace must not mean a surrender of Ukraine. It must not mean a ceasefire without guarantees. This peace must allow for Ukrainian sovereignty and allow Ukraine to negotiate with other stakeholders, regarding the issues it affects.
We were able to talk about the details of the security guarantees. The fact that there are Europeans that are ready to engage, to provide for these security guarantees, and now there's a clear American message that the U.S. as an ally is ready to provide that solidarity for that approach - that's a turning point, in my view. And that is one of the great areas of progress that we've made during this trip."

Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Washington D.C.
(XHTV)