InternationalNews
A Three-Way Meeting Between Trump, Zelensky, and Macron in Paris
French President Emmanuel Macron confirmed on Saturday, after bringing together Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and U.S. President-elect Donald Trump at the Élysée Palace, that they would “continue working together for peace and security.”
Macron wrote on the “X” platform: “The United States, Ukraine, and France. Together on this historic day. We meet for Notre-Dame.” He added: “We have many challenges to face together,” referring to his relationship with Trump, who will return to the White House in January.
Zelensky announced that he had had a “good and fruitful meeting” with Trump and Macron. He said on social media: “I had a good and fruitful three-way meeting with President Donald Trump and President Emmanuel Macron at the Élysée Palace,” adding, “We all want this war to end as soon as possible and in a just manner.” He thanked Macron for organizing the meeting, noting that “President Trump is firm as always. I thank him.” Zelensky clarified that he had agreed with Macron and Trump “to continue working together and staying in contact.”
The Élysée had announced that Macron would meet with the Ukrainian president and Trump in Paris on Saturday, marking their first direct meeting since Trump’s election.
Trump stated that “the world is heading towards something of madness,” at the beginning of the meeting, his first foreign visit since winning the election. He said, “It seems the world is heading toward something of madness right now, and we will talk about it,” praising the “excellent relations” with French President Macron. Macron considered the opportunity to welcome Trump back to Paris on the occasion of the reopening of Notre-Dame Cathedral “a great honor for the French people.”
Despite the tension that characterized their relationship during Trump’s first presidential term, Trump praised his relations with the centrist French president, saying: “We had a wonderful relationship, as everyone knows. We accomplished a lot.” Macron, speaking in English, said, “I was president then, and I remember the solidarity and immediate response.” When Trump assumed office for his first term in 2017, relations between him and Macron began on a positive note, despite their clear political differences.
