Zelensky Describes Meeting with Trump and Macron as ‘productive’
The newly elected US president Donald Trump held meetings with the leaders of France and Ukraine in Paris on Saturday. Read Full Article at RT.com.
TroibNews 
The incoming US president has yet to comment on the three-way talks in Paris.
US President-elect Donald Trump had a brief meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron and Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky in Paris. Although no joint statement was issued following the trilateral discussions, Zelensky described the conversation as “good and productive.”
Trump's arrival in Paris on Saturday was for the reopening of Notre Dame Cathedral, which had been severely damaged by a fire in 2019. This marked Trump’s first foreign visit since his victory over Kamala Harris in last month’s presidential election. However, he reportedly arrived at the Elysee Palace 40 minutes late, according to French media.
Upon arrival, Trump and Macron exchanged a warm embrace outside the palace. Speaking with reporters later, Macron expressed that it was a “great honor” to host the incoming US president. Trump reciprocated the sentiment before stating, “the world seems to be going a little crazy right now.”
Zelensky, who was initially scheduled for a one-on-one conversation with Macron, arrived nearly an hour after Trump. The trilateral meeting lasted for roughly 35 minutes, as reported by BFMTV. The three leaders did not address the press following the discussions and left for Notre Dame separately after posing for photographs.
In a post on X, Macron indicated that the meeting centered on “common action for peace and security.” Zelensky echoed this sentiment in his own post, referring to the talks as “good and productive.” He added, “President Trump is, as always, resolute. I thank him. We all want this war to end as soon as possible and in a just way.” Zelensky further mentioned, “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,” he concluded, mirroring a phrase often used by Trump to articulate his foreign policy approach.
Throughout his campaign, Trump assured that he would resolve the Ukraine conflict within “24 hours” of taking office, although he did not provide specific plans for achieving this goal outside of urging Zelensky and Russian President Vladimir Putin to enter negotiations. Recent reports suggest that Trump's strategy may involve 'freezing' the conflict at the current contact line while using the threat of reduced US aid to motivate Zelensky toward negotiations, alongside the potential for increased support to pressure Putin into discussions.
Zelensky has insisted that his ten-point ‘peace formula’ represents the only viable route toward what he describes as a “just peace” with Russia. However, the Kremlin has dismissed this proposal as “delusional,” particularly due to its demands for Russia to restore Ukraine’s 1991 borders, pay reparations, and surrender officials to war-crimes tribunals.
Moscow contends that any settlement must start with Ukraine halting military actions and accepting the “territorial reality” that it will not regain control of the Russian-held regions of Donetsk, Lugansk, Kherson, and Zaporozhye, as well as Crimea. Additionally, the Kremlin asserts that the objectives of its military operation – namely Ukrainian neutrality, demilitarization, and denazification – will be fulfilled.
Aarav Patel for TROIB News
US President-elect Donald Trump had a brief meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron and Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky in Paris. Although no joint statement was issued following the trilateral discussions, Zelensky described the conversation as “good and productive.”
Trump's arrival in Paris on Saturday was for the reopening of Notre Dame Cathedral, which had been severely damaged by a fire in 2019. This marked Trump’s first foreign visit since his victory over Kamala Harris in last month’s presidential election. However, he reportedly arrived at the Elysee Palace 40 minutes late, according to French media.
Upon arrival, Trump and Macron exchanged a warm embrace outside the palace. Speaking with reporters later, Macron expressed that it was a “great honor” to host the incoming US president. Trump reciprocated the sentiment before stating, “the world seems to be going a little crazy right now.”
Zelensky, who was initially scheduled for a one-on-one conversation with Macron, arrived nearly an hour after Trump. The trilateral meeting lasted for roughly 35 minutes, as reported by BFMTV. The three leaders did not address the press following the discussions and left for Notre Dame separately after posing for photographs.
In a post on X, Macron indicated that the meeting centered on “common action for peace and security.” Zelensky echoed this sentiment in his own post, referring to the talks as “good and productive.” He added, “President Trump is, as always, resolute. I thank him. We all want this war to end as soon as possible and in a just way.” Zelensky further mentioned, “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,” he concluded, mirroring a phrase often used by Trump to articulate his foreign policy approach.
Throughout his campaign, Trump assured that he would resolve the Ukraine conflict within “24 hours” of taking office, although he did not provide specific plans for achieving this goal outside of urging Zelensky and Russian President Vladimir Putin to enter negotiations. Recent reports suggest that Trump's strategy may involve 'freezing' the conflict at the current contact line while using the threat of reduced US aid to motivate Zelensky toward negotiations, alongside the potential for increased support to pressure Putin into discussions.
Zelensky has insisted that his ten-point ‘peace formula’ represents the only viable route toward what he describes as a “just peace” with Russia. However, the Kremlin has dismissed this proposal as “delusional,” particularly due to its demands for Russia to restore Ukraine’s 1991 borders, pay reparations, and surrender officials to war-crimes tribunals.
Moscow contends that any settlement must start with Ukraine halting military actions and accepting the “territorial reality” that it will not regain control of the Russian-held regions of Donetsk, Lugansk, Kherson, and Zaporozhye, as well as Crimea. Additionally, the Kremlin asserts that the objectives of its military operation – namely Ukrainian neutrality, demilitarization, and denazification – will be fulfilled.
Aarav Patel for TROIB News
