U.S. President Donald Trump and French President Emmanuel Macron engaged in a candid conversation shortly before a scheduled meeting of European leaders focused on the Ukraine situation.

A White House official characterized the dialogue as 'friendly,' noting that the two heads of state discussed topics including the Ukraine War, an upcoming gathering of European nations, and recent negotiations between U.S. and Russian officials in Saudi Arabia.

The informal meeting in Paris is attended by prominent European leaders, including German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, UK Opposition Leader Keir Starmer, Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen, Polish leader Donald Tusk, and Dutch Prime Minister Dick Schoof.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President António Costa are also participating, alongside NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte.

Prior to the meeting, Donald Tusk emphasized the need for European nations to significantly enhance their defense expenditures in light of the evolving security landscape on the continent.

His remarks reflect growing concerns regarding the potential reduction of U.S. military commitments in Europe, prompting a call for increased resource allocation to address security challenges.

As discussions commence in Paris, the dynamics of European defense spending and cooperation continue to be critical topics in the context of the ongoing conflict in Ukraine and relations with Russia.