Behind the closed doors of the Synod of Evian-les-Bains, one of the most well-tuned diplomatic thrillers of the year unfolded. Where everyone expected a global fiasco, he set a peculiar political psychology trap for the unpredictable American president
Orchestrating every detail – from lavish dinners at Versailles to changing dates for Trump’s birthday – the French president knew exactly how to touch his ego. But the finishing blow did not come from the Frenchman, but from the hands of Volodymyr Zelensky. A few shocking photos of a burning national treasure of Ukraine were enough to change the balance of the war.
The turning point
The sight of the golden domes engulfed in flames and the devastation caused by a Russian airstrike on the 11th-century architectural gem visibly moved the US president, according to three G7 officials.
They felt that Zelensky’s intervention was likely the final push that convinced Trump to more strongly support Ukraine in Wednesday’s joint declaration. “I think he was really moved,” said one of the G7 officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss the private meetings.
How Macron approached Trump
Although Zelensky was the one holding the photos, it was French President Emmanuel Macron who, as the host, had planned the summit and found just the right way to approach the moody American leader.
While initial expectations for the meeting in the Alpine spa town of Evian-les-Bains called for a diplomatic wreck — where even preventing Trump from leaving early would be considered a success — Macron ultimately scored an unexpected triumph, winning over Trump and pushing him to commit to more military support for Kiev, Politico reports.
It was a diplomatic victory based on years of studying how to flatter Trump and align with his priorities, in this case, on issues ranging from landmines to Chinese rare earths.
The eulogy
When it came time to persuade him on Ukraine, Macron led the other G7 leaders at a dinner on Monday night, where they tailored their messages to match Trump’s black-and-white view of global geopolitics, portraying Ukraine as the winner and Russia as the loser in the latest phase of the war.
Overlooking Lake Geneva at dinner on Monday, the assembled G7 leaders discussed the Middle East at length and, thinking strategically, wove Trump’s praise for his Iran deal.
“They all explained to him that Zelensky is winning because Russia…can’t get past the front line and is even losing territory,” said one European diplomat. “And Russia continues to attack civilians and holy sites,” the diplomat added. The central message was that a wounded Moscow is desperate and striking blindly.
The next day, an open mic caught Macron telling Zelensky that the conversation was “difficult”, before they discussed how best to handle Trump. Nothing had been left to chance.
Even Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, who has a tumultuous relationship with the French president, praised Macron’s diplomatic skills and acknowledged that he was doing an “excellent job at a complicated time for the international scene.”
Diplomats noted, of course, that there is no guarantee that Macron’s efforts this week won’t be undone by a single phone call between Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin. But for now at least, French diplomats can breathe a sigh of relief, having avoided the potential explosions and setbacks that could have blown up the last major diplomatic event Macron is expected to host.
Macron’s reaction
Macron denies that he was simply pandering to Trump, although the truth is that he went above and beyond for him: changing the date of the summit so that Trump would catch a wrestling match on his birthday, throwing him a lavish dinner at Versailles and putting up with his tardiness, but also his rant that he is “the boss.”
When asked by a reporter if all the trouble was worth it, the French president shot back, insisting he got results because he stuck to his principles on Ukraine.
In the end, his strategy paid off. The G7, along with the US, pledged new sanctions against Moscow and “unwavering support” to Kiev, while also agreeing to reduce reliance on Chinese rare earths by 2030. Macron was quick to declare the summit an objective success, but fears of Trump’s moody behavior suggest those gains may be temporary.
