Macron’s diplomatic efforts bring Trump closer to European views

PARIS (AP) 鈥� It may be one of Emmanuel Macron’s last major foreign policy triumphs as France鈥檚 leader: luring U.S. President Donald Trump to a historic night in Versailles, where he to end the Iran war.

But that wasn’t the only memorable moment had this week at a G7 summit where the experience and networks he has built over nearly 10 years as president bore fruit.

Perhaps the most remarkable feat was getting Trump to more forcefully back Ukraine in its war with Russia 鈥� a win for European leaders and for Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy following at the White House in March 2025.

鈥淏ravo,鈥� Macron said after Trump signed the Iran war agreement. The signing came as a surprise to most of the officials and other guests at the Versailles Palace dinner, and they responded with a round of applause.

Macron had said the dinner was intended as a celebration of . The unannounced signing ceremony transformed it into a symbolic finale to Macron鈥檚 weeklong effort to get Trump 鈥� perhaps his last big achievements before the end of his term next spring.

Macron used Versailles as an 鈥榠nstrument of influence鈥�

Macron had presented Versailles as an 鈥渋nstrument of influence鈥� and suggested the invitation could help keep Trump engaged through the end of the G7 summit held in Evian. Trump left last year鈥檚 gathering in Canada before it had concluded.

The Palace of Versailles, which Trump praised as 鈥渘ot gold leaf,鈥� has been a venue for French leaders to honor visiting guests for more than three centuries.

After the signing, Macron praised the Iran agreement as one that 鈥渁llows for putting an end to the conflict, that allows peace, that allows the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz” and will likely result in lower oil prices.

Macron, who was not involved in the Iran war negotiations, cannot claim success for Trump deciding to sign the deal. But he secured the historic location, helping to put Europe back into the frame of a war that the U.S. and Israel jointly launched without consulting Western allies.

French Economy Minister Roland Lescure, who attended the dinner, described the signing as largely improvised.

Trump said in his remarks that he was going to sign the agreement, Lescure said. Asked whether Macron knew in advance, Lescure said he believed Trump had informed the French president shortly beforehand.

鈥淏ut for us, ministers in the French government, it was a surprise,鈥� he told French radio RTL.

Trump received backing from European leaders

Trump arrived in France , including criticism from some allies about his handling of the conflict and the emerging agreement. Sen. Lindsey Graham, one of Trump鈥檚 closest allies and a longtime Iran hawk, had expressed skepticism.

As negotiations with Iran advanced, Trump sought backing from leaders at the G7 meeting, according to a European diplomat briefed on the talks who spoke on condition of anonymity because they weren鈥檛 authorized to discuss the matter publicly. The G7 includes the U.S., France, the U.K., Italy, Germany, Canada and Japan.

鈥淲e certainly gave him some reassurance on the Middle East,鈥� the European diplomat said. 鈥淎nd President Trump, for his part, delivered for us on Ukraine.鈥�

The G7 statement on geopolitical issues referred to a 鈥渂reakthrough鈥� in the Middle East and mentioned Trump by name three times, praising what it called his 鈥渟trong leadership.鈥�

Trump with Macron, British Prime Minister , German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and Italian Prime Minister over failing to consult them before the decision to go to war. He has pushed back on the four members of NATO for their lack of support for the U.S. in the conflict.

Macron, whose started nearly a decade ago, prepared for the G7 summit for months via frequent phone calls focusing on both Iran and Ukraine.

Trump met on the sidelines of the summit with Zelenskyy, who showed Trump photos of the of the Dormition Cathedral in Kyiv.

Americans and Europeans align views to support Ukraine

Macron has at times expressed caution about , particularly regarding Russia and President Vladimir Putin. But European officials argued that this week鈥檚 written commitments represented a more durable position because the language had been approved by Trump himself.

鈥淎merica is with us on Ukraine. That is very important,鈥� Macron said after Trump joined a three-way phone call with Zelenskyy from Versailles.

G7 leaders agreed in a joint statement to increase deliveries of air-defense systems and long-range weapons for Ukraine. They also pledged to increase pressure on Russia through stronger sanctions, including measures targeting the country鈥檚 oil and gas sectors.

Macron also used the summit to raise Lebanon鈥檚 future with Trump. France has longstanding historical ties to Lebanon and has sought to keep support for Lebanese sovereignty high on the international agenda. During discussions in Evian, Trump while criticizing Israel and describing tensions with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

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AP reporters Angela Charlton and Thomas Adamson in Paris contributed to the story