Trump Meets French President Macron, Ukraine’s Zelenskyy In Paris

US President-elect Donald Trump, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy & French President Emmanuel Macron had a trilateral meeting before in Paris.

The meeting between the three men lasted about 20 minutes.

Source : X

French President Emmanuel Macron held a trilateral meeting with US President-elect Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, brought together for the ceremonial reopening of Norte-Dame Cathedral. The meeting between the three men lasted about 20 minutes.

Zelenskyy and European leaders have been concerned that Trump, who takes office next month, could withdraw US military aid to Ukraine at a crucial point in Kyiv's fight with Russia. However, the Ukrainian president said that the meeting was “good and productive” and the leader agreed to continue working together.

"President Trump is, as always, resolute. I thank him," Zelenskyy wrote on social media platform X. "We all want this war to end as soon as possible and in a just way."

This was Trump’s first trip overseas after winning the presidential election last month. According to Reuters, Macron’s invitation also seems like an early opportunity to play the role of mediator between Europe and the incoming president, a role the French leader has relished in the past.

While Macron is a supporter of NATO, Trump believes that European nations should contribute more to their collective defence. Trump has also stressed on the need for a negotiated settlement to end the Ukraine war.

When Trump arrived at Elysee Palace, he told Macron they had enjoyed "really great success" working together during his first term in office. "And it certainly seems like the world is going a little crazy right now. And we'll be talking about that," Trump added as per Reuters.

By inviting Trump to the ceremony, Macron employed a personalised approach that saw some limited success during Trump’s first term, according to Heather Conley, senior adviser to the board of the German Marshall Fund, an organization dedicated to promoting US-European relations.

Trump, who will be sworn in on January 20, has already held discussions with several world leaders and members of his team are trying to get up to speed on a number of world crises, including Ukraine and the Middle East.