PARIS — French President Emmanuel Macron achieved a diplomatic milestone Saturday, hosting the first in-person meeting between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and United States President-elect Donald Trump since he won the election this past November.
This was Trump’s first trip abroad since securing a second presidential term. It got off to a rocky start as the U.S. president-elect arrived more than 40 minutes late for his meeting with Macron and greeted the French president with a characteristically intense and awkward handshake and partial embrace.
Upon arrival, Macron said Trump’s visit was “great honor for French people” while Trump looked back fondly on the “great relationship” the two men enjoyed during his first administration.
“It certainly seems like the world is going a little crazy right now,” Trump added.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy thanked his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron for hosting a “good and productive trilateral meeting” ahead of the reopening of the Notre Dame Cathedral.
This meeting, which lasted less than an hour, was the first in-person encounter between Zelenskyy and Trump since he won the election this past November; Trump and Zelenskyy had spoken over the phone shortly after the race was called.
“We all want this war to end as soon as possible and in a just way. We spoke about our people, the situation on the ground, and a just peace,” Zelenskyy wrote on X. “We agreed to continue working together and keep in contact. Peace through strength is possible.”
Macron called on the “United States, Ukraine, and France” to “continue [their] joint efforts for peace and security.”
Zelenskyy and Trump were initially slated to meet with Macron separately before the French president set up a last-minute trilateral meeting. The three went to Notre Dame afterwards, with Zelenskyy receiving a long round of applause upon entering the cathedral.
During the ceremony, Macron underlined the sadness, “from Rome to Moscow” — triggered by the 2019 fire that destroyed the ancient cathedral — as well as the “unprecedented fraternity” it took to rebuild it through donations and collective work.
Dozens of other global leaders and high-profile figures also attended the Notre Dame reopening ceremony, including Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier, Britain’s Prince William, current U.S. First Lady Jill Biden and Trump-allied tech tycoon Elon Musk.
Heads of state and government will head to the Elysée Palace after the ceremony for a dinner reception during which more diplomatic discussion is expected.
Trump’s election win last month sparked widespread concern in Europe about the future of U.S. support for Ukraine in its defense against Russia. The president-elect’s personnel picks provide little clarity on what lies ahead; his proposed team includes some Russia hawks and pro-NATO figures such as national security advisor Mike Waltz and Marco Rubio for secretary of State. Yet they also include figures such as Pete Hegseth — Trump’s contentious pick for defense secretary — and Vice President-elect JD Vance, who have criticized NATO and called for cutting U.S. aid to Ukraine.
This story has been updated.
