Mohammed Badra / EPA
French President Emmanuel Macron hosted three-way talks with Zelensky and Trump at the Elysee Palace on Saturday, as fears grow in Kiev about the position of the new US administration.
The President-elect of the United States, Donald Trumptoday called, through the social network Truth Social, for an “immediate ceasefire” and negotiations to end the conflict in Ukraine.
“There should be a immediate ceasefire and negotiations should begin. Too many lives were lost in vain, many families have been destroyed and if this continues, it could turn into something much bigger and worse. Ukraine lost ridiculously 400 thousand soldiers and many more civilians.”
In his message, Trump, who will take office on January 20, assured that the Ukrainian president, Volodymyr Zelensky, “I would like to reach an agreement” to end the war.
“Zelensky and Ukraine would like to reach an agreement and put an end to this madness”, wrote Trump after his meeting with his Ukrainian counterpart in Paris, “I know Vladimir Putin well. It’s time to act. China can help. The world is waiting,” concluded Trump.
Trump has openly criticized billions of dollars of military assistance being sent to Ukraine, and stated during the presidential campaign that he could end the conflict in 24 hours.
Hours after the meeting between Trump, Zelenskyy and Macron this Saturday, during the outgoing administration of the US President, in Paris, Joe Biden, announced a new package of military assistance to Ukraine in the amount of 988 million dollars.
The package includes drones, ammunition for HIMARS precision rocket launchers and equipment and spare parts for artillery systems, tanks and armored vehicles, the Pentagon said.
“Just” peace
In Ukraine, there is a fear that Donald Trump can demand concessions unpopular domestically to achieve peace. Zelensky insisted that any agreement with Russia it has to be equitable.
“We all want peace. But it is very important to us… that peace is fair to all of us and that Russia, President Putin, or any other aggressor does not have any possibility of returning“, said Zelensky, in a note published on the Ukrainian presidency website.
“E that is the most important thing – a fair peace and security guaranteesstrong security guarantees for Ukraine,” he added.
Zelensky thanked Trump for his “unwavering determination”, describing the talks as “good and productive”. Zelensky’s meeting with Trump was his first face to face meeting with the millionaire who became political, since Trump’s recent victory in the American elections.
The tripartite meeting was also a unique opportunity for Macron to get an idea of What will a second Trump presidency be like? when he takes over in January. The trip to Paris is Trump’s first international visit since the November 5 elections.
“A little crazy world”
At their reunion, Trump and Macron hugged and shook hands several times on the steps of the French presidential palace. Trump received a guard of honor complete, despite not yet in office.
“It seems that the world is going a little crazy right now and we’re going to talk about it,” Trump told reporters as he prepared to sit down for talks with Macron.
Despite the tensions between the two presidents during their first termTrump hailed his ties with the French centrist leader, saying: “We had a excellent relationship, as everyone knows. We achieved a lot.”
Macron told Trump he was “a great honor for the French people to receive you” for the reopening ceremony of Notre Dame, which was devastated by a fire in 2019 during Trump’s first term. “You were president at that time and I remember the solidarity and the immediate reaction,” Macron added, in English.
European allies have enjoyed a close working relationship with Biden on the Middle East crisis, but Trump is likely to distance himself and ally the United States even more closely with Israel.
In an interview with the Meet the Press program, on the NBC News television network, recorded on Friday and which will be broadcast this Sunday, Trump assured that the US will leave NATO unless allied countries contribute more financially.
“If they pay their bills and treat us fairlythe answer is ‘absolutely, I will stay in NATO’”, clarified the President-elect, before saying that, otherwise, will withdraw the United States from the Atlantic Alliance.
