Macron Hosts Historic Meeting Between Zelenskyy and Trump in Paris
PARIS — French President Emmanuel Macron scored a significant diplomatic achievement on Saturday, bringing together Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and U.S. President-elect Donald Trump for their first in-person meeting following Trump’s election victory in November.
Both Zelenskyy and Trump were in Paris alongside other global leaders and notable figures for the reopening of Notre Dame Cathedral, which had been closed for years following its devastating 2019 fire. Initially, Macron was scheduled to hold separate bilateral meetings with each leader.
However, in a last-minute development confirmed by the French presidency, all three leaders convened for a high-stakes trilateral discussion instead.
Trump’s win last month has sparked deep concern across Europe, particularly over the future of U.S. support for Ukraine in its ongoing defense against Russian aggression. Shortly after the election was called, Trump and Zelenskyy had spoken by phone, but their conversation left many questions unanswered about the direction of U.S.-Ukraine relations moving forward.
This Paris visit marked Trump’s first international trip since securing a second term. The visit, however, had a bumpy start as Trump arrived more than 40 minutes late for his meeting with Macron, greeting the French president with his signature intense and somewhat awkward handshake.
With the trilateral meeting, Macron not only highlighted his role as a key facilitator in global diplomacy but also set the stage for critical discussions about Europe’s future, the war in Ukraine, and the potential policy shifts under Trump’s renewed administration.
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