The French President corrected Donald Trump on the facts surrounding European assistance to Ukraine today as the pair spoke together at the White House.
The US President claimed that Europe was "loaning" funds to Ukraine - against the backdrop of attempting to negotiate a new deal with Volodymyr Zelensky on Ukraine's minerals in exchange for US military support.
However, Emmanuel Macron was quick to interrupt the Republican to make the correction.
"No, in fact, to be frank, we paid. We paid 60 per cent of the total effort. It was like the US: loans, guarantees, grants," he interjected.
Emmanuel Macron was quick to interrupt the Republican to make the correction
GETTY
"We have $230 billion in frozen assets in Europe, Russian assets. But this is not collateral of a loan because it is not our belonging. So they are frozen."
In response, the US President seemed to shrug off his French counterpart, saying: "If you believe that, it's OK with me. They get their money back, and we don't. But now we do."
Speaking at a joint news conference, Trump added that the US had provided "far more aid for Ukraine than any other nation".
He said: "We’ve spent more than $300billion, and Europe has spent about $100 billion. That’s a big difference and at some point we should equalise."
LATEST DEVELOPMENTS:
However, data from German think tank Kiel Institute for the World Economy recorded that Europe, as a collective force, had committed more than double the amount of military, financial and humanitarian aid to Zelensky's nation in December than America had.
While Europe committed $258billion, the US had only committed $124billion.
Additionally, the US straggled behind Europe in military, financial and humanitarian support that had been allocated by about $19billion.
However, the US has beaten Europe specifically in the amount of military aid allocated by a small margin of $2billion.
Both leaders emphasised their desire to seek peace, while the French President stressed the importance of Ukraine's sovereignty and individual territories
REUTERS
As the duo spoke to journalists, Macron declared that he and Trump had made "substantive steps forward" during the bilateral meeting earlier today, on the third anniversary of Putin's invasion of Ukraine.
Both leaders emphasised their desire to seek peace, while the French President stressed the importance of Ukraine's sovereignty and individual territories.
“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,” Macron said, as he spoke at the White House.
He added that he and Trump "share the same beliefs" on a peace deal for Ukraine.
