CHEQUERS, United Kingdom: French President Emmanuel Macron met with UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer on Thursday in Britain, where they discussed the conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East.
Starmer welcomed the French head of state to his Chequers country residence northwest of London, and the two leaders “underscored the need for unity in uncertain times,” according to a readout from Downing Street.
On Ukraine, Macron and Starmer reaffirmed their commitment to work together to support the country for “as long as necessary,” according to a statement from Macron’s office.
They also stressed “the importance of continuing to supply the equipment needed to defend Ukrainian territory” and of guaranteeing financial support for Kyiv beyond 2025.
European powers are preparing for the return to office on January 20 of US President-elect Donald Trump, who has said he will end the Ukraine conflict.
Ukraine and its allies are concerned that a settlement could be imposed on terms favorable to Russia, which invaded Ukraine in 2022.
Macron had previously said the two sides had “a lot of convergence” on pressing issues including Ukraine and the Middle East.
On the Middle East, Macron and Starmer “agreed on the importance of stability and security in the region, as well as the need to avoid regional escalation,” according to Downing Street.
The two leaders also discussed bilateral relations, including a UK-France bilateral summit slated for this year, which will aim to deepen cooperation on defense, energy, artificial intelligence and illegal migration.
Recent months have seen tens of thousands of migrants make the sometimes-deadly sea crossing from France to England.
Macron and Starmer discuss Ukraine, Middle East at UK meeting
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Macron and Starmer discuss Ukraine, Middle East at UK meeting
EU to suspend 93 billion euro retaliatory trade package against US for 6 months
- “With the removal of the tariff threat by the US we can now return to the important business,” Gill said
- The Commission will soon make a proposal “to roll over our suspended countermeasures”
BRUSSELS: The European Commission said on Friday it would propose suspending for another six months an EU package of retaliatory trade measures against the US worth 93 billion euros ($109.19 billion) that would otherwise kick in on February 7.
The package, prepared in the first half of last year when the European Union was negotiating a trade deal with the United States, was put on hold for six months when Brussels and Washington agreed on a joint statement on trade in August 2025.
US President Donald Trump’s threat last week to impose new tariffs on eight European countries over Washington’s push to acquire Greenland had made the retaliatory package a handy tool for the EU to use had Trump followed through on his threat.
“With the removal of the tariff threat by the US we can now return to the important business of implementing the joint EU-US statement,” Commission spokesman Olof Gill said.
The Commission will soon make a proposal “to roll over our suspended countermeasures, which are set to expire on February 7,” Gill said, adding the measures would be suspended for a further six months.
“Just to make absolutely clear — the measures would remain suspended, but if we need them at any point in the future, they can be unsuspended,” Gill said.
