Zelenskiy meets with Trump, Macron to build support in war with Russia
- 7 December, 15:14
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy met with US president-elect Donald in Trump on Saturday in the first meeting after Trump’s securing the second presidential term.
The meeting was organized by French President Emmanuel Macron at the Elysee Palace in Paris ahead of the Notre-Dame Cathedral’s opening. The exact details of the discussions have not been revealed, however. Zelenskiy was expected to build support for his country during the historic trilateral meeting that lasted less than an hour.
Writing on X social media platform, Zelenskiy thanked the French leader Macron for "productive" meeting. “I had a good and productive trilateral meeting with President Donald Trump and President Emmanuel Macron at the Elysée Palace," Zelensky wrote, adding that "We all want this war to end as soon as possible and in a just way.” We spoke about our people, the situation on the ground, and a just peace. We agreed to continue working together and keep in contact. Peace through strength is possible,” Zelenskiy went on saying.
It should be noted that the visit to Paris was Donald Trump’s first trip abroad since winning the presidential election in November. Zelenskiy was initially scheduled to meet Macron and Trump separately, however, the French leader set up a last minute trilateral meeting that was held ahead of the grand reopening of the Notre Dame Cathedral. Dozens of other wolrd leaders and high-profile figures also attended the Notre Dame reopening ceremony, including Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier, Britain’s Prince William, businessman Elon Musk and current U.S. First Lady Jill Biden.
It should be noted that Ukraine and its Western allies have been alarmed by re-election of Donald Trump who during his election campaign called for and immediate end to the Russia-Ukraine war, raising fears that Washington could withhold its military support to Kyiv during Trump’s inauguration.
