Europe ready to 'step up' on def spending: Macron

French President Macron

told President Trump Monday that Europe is ready to "step up" defence spending but said he hoped for "strong" US involvement in securing any peace settlement in Ukraine.

Macron

said he and Trump would discuss "long-lasting peace" in Ukraine but that

Kyiv

"must be involved" in talks to end the war. He said some European countries would be ready to have peacekeepers in Ukraine as a security guarantee after a peace treaty was signed, although they would not be sent to the front line.