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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky described his first live chats with US President-elect Donald Trump since the November US elections as “productive” as the pair discussed ending the war as soon as possible.
Mr Trump attended the reopening of Notre Dame Cathedral, which was destroyed by fire in 2019, along with dozens of other world leaders in Paris on his return to the world stage.
But far from the restoration of the landmark, much of the focus was on the meeting brokered and attended by French President Emmanuel Macron between Zelensky and Trump.
Trump has vowed to end Russia’s invasion of Ukraine within 24 hours of his inauguration on January 20, although his officials have floated the idea of forcing Kiev to cede territory to Russian leader Vladimir Putin to achieve that goal.
Zelensky described the 35-minute tripartite meeting as “good and productive”, adding: “We all want this war to end as soon as possible and in a fair way. We talked about our people, the situation on the ground and just peace.”
He said they “agreed to continue working together and stay in touch”. Echoing a phrase adopted by Trump supporters, he said: “Peace through strength is possible.”
The Ukrainian president sent his chief of staff, Andriy Yermak, to the US this week to meet with Trump’s representatives, as well as the current administration of Joe Biden, in an attempt to secure Washington’s continued support.
Before Zelensky’s arrival, while Trump and Macron were standing in front of the Elysée Palace, the newly elected US president hinted at what was on the agenda.
“It sure seems like the world is going a little crazy right now,” he said. “And we’ll talk about it.”
Macron is one of the few European leaders who was in power during Trump’s first term. Then he used flattery and pomp to curry favor with the unpredictable Mr. Trump.
Another time, the call to reopen Notre Dame suggests they will adopt the same strategy. The stakes, however, are significantly higher.
The French prime minister has become a champion of Ukraine’s fight against Russia, becoming the first Western leader earlier this year to say he was open to the idea of stationing European troops in Ukraine.
Trump spent about 90 minutes in the presidential palace. Mr. Zelenski joined them for about 35 minutes. The three leaders spoke in English and a translator was in the room, according to French officials.
The French president’s office said the three-way talks were proposed by Macron and agreed shortly before Mr Trump’s arrival.
A person familiar with Trump’s plans said before the meeting was announced that while Mr. Trump and Mr. Zelensky attended the ceremony at the cathedral and surrounding events and were likely to communicate, Trump’s transition team had not worked with the Ukrainians to schedule formal talks.
After the meeting at the site, Trump’s senior transition official did not dismiss the idea that it had come together at the last minute, but said it was “fully discussed and agreed upon” and that Mr. Trump was “fully informed” of the timing in advance.
Accompanying Mr. Trump to Paris was a small contingent of advisers that included new chief of staff Susie Wiles, along with Steve Witkoff, a longtime friend and real estate investor whom Trump named as his special envoy for the Middle East, and Massad Boulos, who is his father-in-law Trump’s daughter Tiffany and will serve as senior adviser on Arab and Middle Eastern affairs.
The group did not appear to include anyone with expertise in Ukraine.
“United States, Ukraine and France. Together on this historic day. United for Notre-Dame. Let’s continue to work together for peace and security,” Macron wrote on X, formerly Twitter, later.
As well as helping Ukraine’s hopes for a prosperous deal, Mr Macron will want to be present at the meeting between Zelensky and Trump to ensure Europe has a seat at the negotiating table, says Nicolas Tenzer, a French former senior civil servant and Russia expert.
Former British and American officials during Trump’s first term saidThe Independent it was certainly possible that the US president-elect could make a deal over his head, negotiating directly with Putin.
It is coming as Mr. Macron’s government was throw into chaos after what he called a “coalition of the irresponsible,” including the far left and the hard right, united to push through a vote of no confidence in the French president’s choice for prime minister, Michel Barnier.
France now risks ending the year without a stable government or budget for 2025, although the constitution allows for special measures to prevent a US-style government shutdown.
Macron was expected to name a new prime minister before the reopening of Notre Dame after he said during an address to the nation on Thursday that he would choose someone “in the coming days”.
But while the meeting with Trump may have been a diplomatic success for Macron, the US president-elect, among dozens of world leaders, arrived on Saturday in a country that still does not have a legitimate prime minister. Mr. Barnier, at Mr. Macron’s request, is serving as interim prime minister until the next appointment.