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Volodymyr Zelensky voiced his support for Donald Trump’s aspirations to conclude the conflict in Ukraine “as swiftly as possible” during an unexpected gathering facilitated by Emmanuel Macron in light of the reopening of the Notre-Dame Cathedral.
The meeting took place at the Élysée Palace on Saturday, where the trio deliberated on their collective strategies regarding “defense and offense” in Ukraine. Mr. Trump remarked on the current global instability, saying that things are “going a little crazy right now.”
In addition to his discussions with Zelensky, the president-elect also engaged with the Prince of Wales, marking his first interaction with the British royal family since departing from office in 2021.
This meeting was anticipated to lead to formal discussions later that evening about the enduring “special relationship” between the UK and the US.
Mr. Macron has hosted 40 world leaders for the Notre-Dame reopening ceremony, which occurs five years after substantial parts of the historic cathedral suffered fire damage.
The cathedral’s bells sounded joyfully, celebrating the completion of a £630 million reconstruction. Macron remarked that this achievement illustrates France’s capability to “realize the impossible.”
He referred to Notre-Dame as a “happy metaphor” for the essence of a nation and the vision for the world.
Following his meeting with Trump, Zelensky emphasized their shared commitment to fostering a “just peace,” echoing Trump’s principle of “peace through strength.”
Zelensky stated, “We all desire this war to conclude as soon as possible and in a fair manner. We touched upon the circumstances our people are facing and the need for a just peace.”
This marked Trump’s initial meeting with the Ukrainian president since his recent electoral success. Trump has previously stated his ambition to resolve the war “in a day” and is crafting a plan to negotiate a ceasefire with Russia.
Earlier, Zelensky had indicated skepticism regarding Trump’s proposed cuts to US military support and beginning discussions with Vladimir Putin about territorial claims in eastern Ukraine.
Nevertheless, since Trump’s election win, Zelensky has been eager to engage with the president-elect’s strategy and has requested additional Western defenses for Ukraine under the “NATO umbrella” as part of a peace resolution.
He has also broached the idea of potentially ceding four eastern regions currently under Russian control in exchange for terminating the active conflict.
At the weekend, Trump and Zelensky expressed gratitude to Macron for facilitating their unanticipated meeting. Trump labeled his presence at the Élysée as “a great honor” and reiterated the “great relationship” that exists between the nations.
He commented, “The world indeed seems a little chaotic at the moment. We are set to discuss that.”
Trump is reportedly weighing the establishment of an 800-mile buffer zone between Ukraine and Russia to be patrolled by European forces. While the US wouldn’t send troops, it might still offer military assistance to uphold peace.
The viability of any agreement would fundamentally rely on the fate of the eastern Ukrainian territories invaded by Russian forces since February 2022, where ongoing conflict persists. Ukraine has, in turn, reclaimed segments of the Kursk region, inside Russian territory.
Concerns have been voiced by several NATO allies, including the UK, that making territorial concessions could further embolden Russia.
Mark Rutte, NATO’s newly appointed secretary-general, indicated that other member nations are poised to escalate military support as Trump’s inauguration on January 20 approaches.
This week, Zelensky’s chief of staff engaged with key figures from Trump’s transition team, including vice president-elect JD Vance, to deliberate on the path to resolving the war.
The Notre-Dame reopening ceremony was transformed into a significant diplomatic event under Macron’s leadership, coming at a time when his government faced challenges, including a recent confidence vote loss in the national assembly.
During the ceremony, attended by 1,500 guests, Macron expressed gratitude to a “brotherhood… from all continents, from all religions, from all walks of life” that contributed to the cathedral’s restoration.
The cathedral’s largest bell, cast in 1683 and known as Emmanuel, rang out to signal the beginning of the service.
Macron remarked, “Once again, the bells of Notre-Dame have sounded,” stating, “Notre-Dame de Paris has been returned to you. You have made this possible.”
Prince’s Charm Offensive
The Prince of Wales was set to engage in a 30-minute meeting with Trump, as he was brought in to lead a charm offensive that highlights the significance of their longstanding “special relationship.”
Their previous encounter occurred in June 2019 during a state visit hosted by Queen Elizabeth II during Trump’s first term in office.
This event marked Trump’s first engagement with a royal family member since winning the election on November 5, and it was also his first international trip after his electoral success.
During his campaign, Trump promised to impose tariffs on all foreign imports, a move experts suggest would negatively impact the UK economy.
Entrusting the Prince with such a politically charged moment has been seen as validation of his growth as a significant figure on the global stage, as well as a personal milestone in his role as a representative for the UK.
Initially, he was scheduled to hold a private discussion with Mrs. Biden; however, travel delays caused by Storm Darragh led to that meeting being cut short. Instead, they exchanged informal conversation during the ceremony.
The travel setbacks also prompted a rescheduling of the meeting with Trump, moving it to after the ceremony rather than before as was originally intended.
Source
www.yahoo.com