United States President-elect Donald Trump met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and French President Emmanuel Macron on the eve of the Notre Dame Cathedral reopening ceremony.
The discussions, held at the Élysée Palace, lasted just over 30 minutes and addressed pressing international concerns.
Initially, Trump and Zelensky were scheduled to hold separate consecutive talks with Macron. However, the trio opted for a joint discussion, underscoring the shared significance of their topics.
The United States remains Ukraine’s largest provider of military aid in its ongoing conflict with Russia. However, Trump has cast doubt on the continuation of this support, repeatedly asserting that the war would not have commenced had he been in power. In July, he claimed he could end the war in a single day, though he did not elaborate on his approach.
At the end of November, Zelensky expressed a willingness to engage “directly” with Trump, stating that he was open to the President-elect’s ideas for resolving the conflict. “I am awaiting Trump’s proposals on ending the war,” Zelensky said, adding that he believed the conflict could be resolved as early as next year.
The two leaders previously met at Trump Tower in New York in September. Reflecting on that meeting, Zelensky described their interactions as “warm, good, constructive.”
This latest discussion comes amidst growing global attention on Ukraine’s fight against Russian aggression, as well as Trump’s evolving stance on US involvement in international conflicts.
The meeting at the Élysée Palace further highlighted the interconnected roles of the US, Ukraine, and European allies in navigating the complexities of the war and the broader implications for global stability.
