France's Macron, UK’s Starmer persuade Trump to shift rhetoric on Putin

Politico reported the information.

As the publication notes, Keir Starmer and Emmanuel Macron focused on persuading Trump to soften his stance toward Volodymyr Zelenskyy and redirect some of his anger toward Putin, using the argument that “Putin is making a fool of Trump.”

A former UK ambassador, who wished to remain anonymous, said that Zelenskyy “clearly managed to influence Trump’s thinking” in Rome, and that the UK and France have been consistent in stressing that “Putin was “disrespecting [Trump] by consistently breaking the ceasefire he claimed to be implementing.”

The leaders suggested this was a particular pressure point, as Trump is “squeamish about people being killed - it bothers him.”

A French official chimed in that “for the moment, Trump has understood” Putin can’t be trusted. It’s something that the president [Macron] repeatedly says, and tries to get through to Trump. That’s our strategy right now.”

• Before speaking with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Rome, U.S. President Donald Trump pulled his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron aside for a private conversation. A professional lip reader has deciphered Trump’s words.