Zelenskyy meets with Trump in Paris: First details
Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Donald Trump, Presidents of Ukraine and the United States (photo: president.gov.ua)
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy met with US President-elect Donald Trump in Paris. This is their first meeting since the US election, but the second this year, BFM TV informs.
Zelenskyy and Trump arrived in Paris today to attend the opening of the restored Notre Dame Cathedral.
First, Trump arrived at the Elysee Palace to meet with Macron. After that, it was announced that the Ukrainian president would join them.
Donald Trump, Emmanuel Macron, and Volodymyr Zelenskyy
According to the spokesperson for the President of Ukraine, Serhii Nykyforov, the trilateral meeting between Zelenskyy, Trump, and Macron behind closed doors has already begun.
Upon arriving at the Elysee Palace, Trump said that "the world is going crazy" and that's what he wants to discuss today.
At 19:10, the trilateral meeting in Paris is over. The Ukrainian president's spokesperson told RBC-Ukraine that it lasted 35 minutes. Now the leaders will go to the opening ceremony of Notre Dame Cathedral.
Donald Trump, Emmanuel Macron, and Volodymyr Zelenskyy
Zelenskyy and Trump's contacts
Zelenskyy's first meeting with Trump this year took place before the American elections in late September. At that time, the Ukrainian president visited New York to present the Ukrainian Victory Plan to the then-US presidential candidate.
The second time Zelenskyy and Trump had contact was after the latter won the presidential election in November. At that time, Zelenskyy and Trump had a phone conversation and agreed to maintain a close dialogue and “develop cooperation” between the two countries.
“Strong and unwavering U.S. leadership is vital for the world and for a just peace,” the Ukrainian leader said at the time.
Trump and Russia's war against Ukraine
During the election campaign, Trump repeatedly made statements about Russia's war against Ukraine. In particular, the presidential candidate promised to end the war “in 24 hours” before his inauguration. However, since winning the election, Trump has not made any public official statements about Ukraine or the war.
At the same time, members of his entourage have already voiced a number of their own plans to end the war. All of them do not provide for Ukraine's membership in NATO, which goes against Kyiv's aspirations.
Zelenskyy warned that a “quick” end to Russia's war against Ukraine could lead to losses for Ukraine.
“As for a quick end to the war, today I believe that Trump wants a quick solution. Wants - it does not mean that it will work. I'm not making any accusations,” he said during one of his press conferences.
Political analyst Volodymyr Fesenko, commenting on the plans of Trump's associates voiced in the media, said that the US president-elect has no plan on ending the war in Ukraine. He is still deciding on it.
