PanamaTimes

Wednesday, Feb 18, 2026

Macron, Biden Agree on Establishing European Defense

Macron, Biden Agree on Establishing European Defense

US President Joe Biden announced his readiness to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin on the condition that Putin is ready to end the aggression on Ukraine.
The President stressed that the only way to end the war was Russia's withdrawal from Ukraine, ruling out that Russia would be able to achieve victory in the war.

Biden was speaking during the first state visit of his presidency in the presence of French President Emmanuel Macron.

Macron focused on showing the massive infrastructure damage in Ukrainian and the impact of the war on European countries.

Both leaders reiterated their continued support for the Ukrainian people, ensured their steadfastness in the face of Russia, and asserted the need to equip the Ukrainian forces with the necessary financial and military aid.

They also agreed to support the defenses of NATO and its members, but there appeared to be a big gap between Macron's desire to end the Russian-Ukrainian war through negotiations and Biden's desire to support Kyiv until the restoration of all lands from the control of the Russian forces.

Macron confirmed in an interview with ABC channel that he would hold talks with Putin in the coming days, noting that he wanted to visit Washington and have in-depth discussions with Biden.

On Thursday, the French President called for a "lasting peace" to end the conflict, noting that a "good peace is not a peace which will be imposed to the Ukrainians by others," adding, "A good peace is not a peace which will not be accepted on the mid-to-long run by one of the two parties."

Macron believes negotiation is still "possible" with Putin to end Russia's invasion of Ukraine, which he described as a "huge mistake."

"[Putin] is in charge, and he's been in charge for quite a long time … He knows his people. I think he made a mistake," Macron said.

"Is it impossible to come back [to] the table and negotiate something? I think it's still possible."

The last official talks between Macron and Putin dated back to Sept. 11, and the French President announced that he intends to have "direct contact" with the Russian President on several issues.

The Elysee Palace stated that Macron would remind Putin of France's demands, which are the exit of Russian forces from Ukraine, and restoring Kyiv's sovereignty and territorial integrity.

Meanwhile, Biden and Macron disagreed on several issues, including China and stability in the Indian and Pacific oceans.

Macron favored a pragmatic rapprochement with China to achieve a breakthrough, while Biden adhered to the policy of competition with Beijing on some issues and cooperating on others.

The disparity between the two leaders was apparent regarding the most pressing issues, as Biden refused to apologize for enacting the Inflation Reduction Law, despite Macron's attempts to convince him of its negative impact on French and European companies.

The French and US Presidents agreed on the Iranian nuclear program, as Biden stressed that both countries are determined to ensure that Iran can never develop or acquire a nuclear weapon.

They also expressed their respect for the Iranian people who are "bravely protesting" to gain the freedom to exercise their human rights and fundamental freedoms, which Iran itself has subscribed to and is violating.

Paris and Washington continue to work with other international partners to address Iran's nuclear escalation, its insufficient cooperation with the IAEA, including on severe and outstanding issues relating to Iran's legal obligations under its Non-Proliferation Treaty Safeguards Agreement, and its destabilizing activities in the Middle East.

In a joint statement issued before the press conference, the Presidents recognized the importance of a stronger and more capable European defense that contributes positively to transatlantic and global security and is complementary to and interoperable with NATO.

The statement stressed the speedy provision of significant resources to support Ukrainian civilian resilience through the winter, including stepping up the delivery of air defense systems and equipment needed to repair Ukraine's energy grid.

The United States and France plan to continue working with partners and allies to coordinate assistance efforts, including at the international conference in Paris on Dec. 13, 2022.

They also intended to continue providing robust direct budget support for Ukraine and to urge international financial institutions to scale up their financial support.

The US and France are strengthening their partnership in the Indo-Pacific region to advance prosperity, security, and shared values based on a rules-based international order, transparent governance, fair economic practices, and respect for international law, including freedom of navigation.

They would continue to coordinate on concerns regarding China's challenge to the rules-based international order, including respect for human rights, and work with China on critical global issues like climate change.

They also strongly condemned North Korea's unprecedented number of unlawful ballistic missile tests this year that violated multiple UN Security Council resolutions and threatened regional peace and stability.

Concerning Africa, the presidents renewed their resolve to work with African partners to pursue shared governance, security, and economic priorities on the continent.

Paris and Washington are determined to work closely to support peace and prosperity in the Middle East. The Presidents welcomed the historic breakthrough of the October 2022 Israel-Lebanon maritime boundary agreement.

The Presidents welcomed the successful first year of the US-France Bilateral Clean Energy Partnership, which convened most recently in October 2022, as the high-level platform to advance energy and climate cooperation.
Newsletter

Related Articles

PanamaTimes
0:00
0:00
Close
Cuba adopts electric tricycles for transport amid fuel shortages
Cuba's fuel crisis leads to mounting waste in Havana
Eighty-Year-Old Lottery Winner Sentenced to 16.5 Years for Drug Trafficking
UK Green Party Considering Proposal to Legalize Heroin for an Inclusive Society
Investigation Launched at Winter Olympics Over Ski Jumpers Injecting Hyaluronic Acid
Wall Street Erases All Gains of 2026; Bitcoin Plummets 14% to $63,000
Cuba Warns It Has Only Weeks of Oil Remaining as US Pressure Tightens
The AI Hiring Doom Loop — Algorithmic Recruiting Filters Out Top Talent and Rewards Average or Fake Candidates
WhatsApp Develops New Meta AI Features to Enhance User Control
U.S. winter storm triggers 13,000-plus flight cancellations and 160,000 power outages
America’s Venezuela Oil Grip Meets China’s Demand: Market Power, Legal Shockwaves, and the New Rules of Energy Leverage
There is no sovereign immunity for poisoning millions with drugs.
President Trump Says United States Will Administer Venezuela Until a Secure Leadership Transition
Delta Force Identified as Unit Behind U.S. Operation That Captured Venezuela’s President
Trump Announces U.S. Large-Scale Strike on Venezuela, Declares President Maduro and Wife Captured
The Pilot Barricaded Himself in the Cockpit and Refused to Take Off: "We Are Not Leaving Until I Receive My Salary"
Hackers Are Hiding Malware in Open-Source Tools and IDE Extensions
White House launches ‘Hall of Shame’ site to publicly condemn media outlets for alleged bias
Families Accuse OpenAI of Enabling ‘AI-Driven Delusions’ After Multiple Suicides
Maduro Tightens Security Measures as U.S. Strike Threat Intensifies
U.S. Issues Alert Declaring Venezuelan Airspace a Hazard Due to Escalating Security Conditions
A Decade of Innovation Stagnation at Apple: The Cook Era Critique
Nancy Pelosi Finally Announces She Will Not Seek Re-Election, Signalling End of Long Congressional Career
Erling Haaland’s Remarkable Run: 13 Premier League Goals in 10 Matches and Eyes on History
White House Refutes Reports That US Targeting Military Sites in Venezuela
Hurricane Melissa Strikes Cuba After Devastating Jamaica With Record Winds
U.S. Targets Maritime Narco-Routes While Border Pressure to Mexico Remains Limited
Argentina’s Markets Surge as Milei’s Party Secures Major Win
U.S. Treasury Sanctions Colombia’s President Gustavo Petro over Drug-Trafficking Allegations
‘I Am Not Done’: Kamala Harris Signals Possible 2028 White House Run
Ecuadorian President Daniel Noboa Alleges Poison Plot via Chocolate and Jam
Trump Accuses Colombia’s President of Drug-Leadership and Announces End to US Aid
"The Tsunami Is Coming, and It’s Massive": The World’s Richest Man Unveils a New AI Vision
U.S. Treasury Mobilises New $20 Billion Debt Facility to Stabilise Argentina
A Dollar Coin Featuring Trump’s Portrait Expected to Be Issued Next Year
Trump Stands Firm in Shutdown Showdown and Declares War on Drug Cartels — Turning Crisis into Opportunity
FBI Strikes Deep in Maduro’s Financial Web with Bold Money-Laundering Indictments
Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs Sentenced to Fifty Months in Prison Following Prostitution Conviction
New World Screwworm Creeps Within Seventy Miles of U.S. Border, Threatening Cattle Sector
Colombian President Petro Vows to Mobilize Volunteers for Gaza and Joins List of Fighters
Trump Orders Third Lethal Strike on Drug-Trafficking Vessel as U.S. Expands Maritime Counter-Narcotics Operations
US Launches New Pilot Program to Accelerate eVTOL Air Taxi Deployment
New OpenAI Study Finds Majority of ChatGPT Use Is Personal, Not Professional
Actor, director, environmentalist Robert Redford dies at 89
Florida Hospital Welcomes Its Largest-Ever Baby: Annan, Nearly Fourteen Pounds at Birth
Could AI Nursing Robots Help Healthcare Staffing Shortages?
In a politically motivated trial: Bolsonaro Sentenced to 27 Years for Plotting Coup After 2022 Defeat
In a highly politically motivated trial, Brazil’s Supreme Court finds former leader Bolsonaro guilty of plotting coup
Brazilian police say ex-President Bolsonaro had planned to flee to Argentina seeking asylum
Apple Introduces Ultra-Thin iPhone Air, Enhanced 17 Series and New Health-Focused Wearables
×