French President Emmanuel Macron is scheduled to meet with U.S. President Donald Trump in Washington on Monday, making him the first European leader to visit the U.S. capital since Trump’s inauguration.

The meeting has been confirmed by both the Elysée Palace and the White House.

In a notable diplomatic maneuver, Macron's visit precedes that of U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who is set to arrive in Washington three days later.

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt announced the schedule during a briefing, stating that Trump had engaged in discussions with Macron the previous week, indicating a proactive approach to the upcoming meeting.

Macron had been in contact with other European leaders prior to this visit.

The meeting occurs amidst growing concerns regarding Trump's decision to engage in direct negotiations with Russia over the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.

This development has raised alarms among Western allies, who fear being sidelined from critical discussions regarding the war's outcome.

During a live social media Q&A on Thursday, Macron expressed his intention to convince Trump that direct negotiations could be interpreted as capitulation to Russian President Vladimir Putin, potentially undermining U.S. credibility with other global powers, notably China and Iran.

Macron articulated the importance of demonstrating strength against Putin, suggesting that a conciliatory approach may have implications for future geopolitical challenges posed by China.

He stated, 'The situation is worrying, but not because President Trump wants to negotiate.

We have to make him understand that his interests are the same as ours.'

Furthermore, Macron emphasized that projecting weakness in diplomatic engagements could have detrimental effects, asserting, 'It would be a huge strategic mistake.'