The French president convenes a second summit of leaders amid cracks among allies. Four years before the war in Ukraine and during Donald Trump's first term, Emmanuel Macron openly challenged the creation of "a true European army" to defend the continent without relying on the United States.

President Emmanuel Macron said Wednesday that France and its allies agreed Ukraine’s rights and European security concerns should be taken into account in any deal to end the war with Russia, before he heads to Washington next week.