Paris, Feb 19 (Reuters) - France expressed bewilderment at the suggestion made by the U.S. President that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy was at fault for his country's situation and the ensuing conflict, stated a representative of the French government on Wednesday.
"We find the logic behind this quite perplexing," spokesperson Sophie Primas informed the press, characterizing President Trump's remarks as "varied, conflicting, and often perplexing."
Primas noted that Trump had made several statements regarding Ukraine recently, without engaging with his European counterparts.
During comments to journalists on Tuesday, Trump remarked: "You've been there for three years," expressing concerns about Ukraine being excluded from discussions between Russia and the United States. "You should have never started it. You could have made a deal."
The deadliest conflict in Europe since World War Two began in 2022 when Russian President Vladimir Putin launched a "military operation" in Ukraine.
The decision by Washington and Moscow to hold peace talks in Saudi Arabia this week caught Ukraine and its European allies off guard. Ukraine has declared its refusal to accept any imposed agreement, a sentiment echoed by European leaders. Meanwhile, Russia has dismissed the idea of relinquishing any territories it has gained.
French President Emmanuel Macron is scheduled to confer on Ukraine with various European leaders and NATO ally Canada at 4 p.m. (1500 GMT), following a similar meeting held with Britain, Italy, Germany, Spain, the EU, Denmark, and the Netherlands on Monday.
Leading up to the discussions on Wednesday, Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson mentioned that although there wasn't full consensus within the European Union on the way forward, substantial progress had been achieved within the EU framework. He emphasized the importance of supporting Kyiv vigorously to strengthen its position.
Issuing a word of caution, he remarked, "Everyone appears to assume that Russia is willing to negotiate for peace. I'm not entirely convinced about that. Therefore, maintaining composure and continuing to stand by Ukraine is crucial."