A photo for history, that of Donald Trump’s first foreign visit since his re-election to the White House, in Paris this Saturday, December 7, alongside the Ukrainian Volodymyr Zelensky, on the sidelines of the reopening of Notre -Lady. A nice diplomatic blow for Emmanuel Macron, in the midst of a slump in the Assembly after the censorship of the Barnier government.
Emmanuel Macron managed this Saturday to bring together Volodymyr Zelensky And Donald Trump in the golden salon of the Élysée Palace, before the three men went to the Île de la Cité for the reopening of Notre-Dame of Paris.
It was the first time since Mr. Trump’s victory in the American presidential election in November that the latter met with the strong man from kyiv, while he intends to make him accept the principle of concession, in his conflict with the Russia.
The elected president of UNITED STATES arrived first in the French capital on Saturday morning. Mr. Zelensky, for his part, arrived at midday. It was agreed that the French head of state would receive, during the afternoon, one then the other.
But Mr. Trump arrived several dozen minutes late for the program on rue Faubourg-Saint-Honoré, while his Ukrainian counterpart waited at the Intercontinental hotel. Also, the two interviews quickly seemed to overlap.
Volodymyr Zelensky finally burst into the courtyard of the presidential palace, welcomed by the head of protocol, while Donald Trump was still inside the building, welcomed a little earlier on the steps by Emmanuel Macron.
“ I remember the solidarity and your immediate reaction »
The French president and his future American counterpart had already spoken briefly. “ President, it is a great honor for the French people to welcome you five years later, when you were president at that time. »
I remember the solidarity and your immediate reaction. Also, welcome back with us. We are very happy to have you here.
“ We have a great relationship as everyone knows. We have accomplished a lot together. The people of France is extraordinary », replied Donald Trump, before paying tribute to the French community established in his country.
“ The world seems to be going a little crazy right now », added the American president-elect, in the midst of a rebel offensive in Syria, believing that it was necessary to talk about it. But it’s probably war in Ukraine that it will have been mainly a question.
A few minutes later, the three men, with Mr. Zelensky, finally appeared together in the living room of Joachim Murat’s former mansion for a historic photo. A great success from the point of view of the French president.
“ Continue to work together. Peace through strength is possible »
The three leaders spent 35 minutes side by side, before each going in their car to the Île de la Cité. They posed again at the exit and MM. Trump and Zelensky then shook hands again at Notre Dame.
According to Agence France-Presse, they spoke in English, without a translator. President Zelensky then issued a tweet, before entering to the applause of the crowd, then the participants, the ceremony in the Paris cathedral.
He spoke of a “ good and productive trilateral meeting “. “ President Trump is, as always, resolute, he pointed out. I thank him. I also express my gratitude to Emmanuel for organizing this important meeting. » “ We all wish, continued the Ukrainian head of state, May this war end as quickly and justly as possible. We talked about our people, the situation on the ground and a just peace. »
We agreed to continue working together and stay in touch. Peace through strength is possible.
It remains to be seen whether this meeting will bear any fruit, as Donald Trump, who met Volodymyr Zelensky in New York in September, focused part of his campaign on an end to the military aid provided by his country to kyiv.
For now, however, it is Joe Biden who remains the President of the United States. In Washington, the American Department of Defense also announced, shortly after today’s meeting in Paris, a new tranche of military aid to Ukraine.
This latest aid is estimated at $988 million. It includes the dispatch of drones, missiles for the Ukrainian Himars rocket launcher systems, and increased support for critical equipment maintenance, according to the Pentagon.
To rereadAhead of Trump’s inauguration, US steps up support for Ukraine
The Republican’s victory in the November 5 presidential election has cast doubt on the future of his country’s support for Ukraine, with only a few weeks left to provide billions of dollars in aid already budgeted before his inauguration.
The billionaire assured throughout the race for the White House that he was capable of resolving the war between kyiv and Moscow in one day, even before taking the oath of office in January 2025. He received congratulations from Russia after his victory .
Ukraine’s European allies fear a disengagement by the United States in this conflict or even pressure for an agreement to the detriment of kyiv, while the Russian Federation currently occupies around 20% of its neighbor’s territory.
Since November 5, Mr. Zelensky had only been able to speak briefly on the phone with Mr. Trump. Today’s trilateral meeting was “ decided a bit at the last moment », concedes a diplomatic source cited by Agence France-Presse.
At Notre-Dame, Donald Trump sat with the French number one. Not far away was Mrs. Jill Biden. MM. Zelensky and Trump then met with the other guests for dinner at the Élysée, a final opportunity to talk to each other.
Read alsoNotre-Dame: relive the ceremony marking the reopening of Paris Cathedral