French President Emmanuel Macron has firmly rejected the idea of Russian President Vladimir Putin serving as a mediator between Israel and Iran, following a controversial suggestion made by U.S. President Donald Trump in a televised interview on Sunday.
Putin for Peace?
As reported in Reuters, speaking during an official visit to Greenland — the first by a foreign leader since Trump threatened U.S. annexation of the Arctic island — Macron questioned the credibility of Russia as a peace broker. “I do not believe that Russia, which is now engaged in a high-intensity conflict and has decided not to respect the UN Charter for several years now, can be a mediator,” he said during a press conference alongside Denmark’s Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen and Greenland’s Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen.
French President Emmanuel Macron speaks to members of media as he arrives at Nuuk Airport in Nuuk, Greenland, June 15, 2025. Ritzau Scanpix/Mads Claus Rasmussen/via REUTERS ATTENTION EDITORS – THIS IMAGE WAS PROVIDED BY A THIRD PARTY. DENMARK OUT. NO COMMERCIAL OR EDITORIAL SALES IN DENMARK.
Trump, in an interview with ABC News, had said he was open to the idea of Putin mediating the rising tensions between Israel and Iran. The proposal immediately drew skepticism, especially considering Putin’s continued military aggression in Ukraine and his resistance to prior American-led peace efforts.
Macron, who is en route to the G7 Leaders’ Summit in Canada, also stated that France had no role in any of Israel’s recent attacks on Iran. The French president emphasized that peace initiatives must be rooted in international legitimacy and trust — qualities he suggested Moscow lacked due to its current geopolitical posture.
Tensions in the Arctic
The location of Macron’s remarks — Greenland — added further complexity to an already tense moment in global diplomacy. The self-governing Danish territory has been at the center of another contentious Trump proposal: the potential U.S. takeover of the strategically vital, mineral-rich island.
“Greenland is not to be sold, not to be taken,” Macron declared. “There is a way forward to build a better future in cooperation and not in provocation or confrontation.” While he expressed hope that the U.S., “an ally and a friend,” would not act aggressively, he also signaled continued French and European vigilance.
French President Emmanuel Macron, Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen and Greenland’s Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen visit the Danish frigate F363 Niels Juel in Nuuk, Greenland, June 15, 2025. Ritzau Scanpix/Mads Claus Rasmussen/via REUTERS ATTENTION EDITORS – THIS IMAGE WAS PROVIDED BY A THIRD PARTY. DENMARK OUT. NO COMMERCIAL OR EDITORIAL SALES IN DENMARK.
Macron’s visit comes after Danish leaders sought European support following Trump’s threats, with Copenhagen shifting its defense posture and placing new orders for French-made surface-to-air missiles. The move highlights growing concern across Europe about U.S. intentions in the Arctic.
According to a recent IFOP poll published by NYC.eu, a significant majority of French citizens — 77% — and over half of Americans — 56% — oppose any U.S. annexation of Greenland. Notably, 43% of French respondents said they would support the use of French military power to block such an action.
As the G7 summit approaches, Macron’s sharp rebuke of Trump’s proposal for Putin’s mediation, paired with the rising tensions in the Arctic, signal a challenging road ahead for transatlantic relations — one marked by disputes not only over war and peace in the Middle East, but also territorial ambition in the far No
