Trilateral meeting at the Élysée between Macron, Zelensky, and Trump

U.S. President-elect Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky met with Emmanuel Macron at the Élysée Palace this Saturday, December 7, 2024. This trilateral summit, held alongside the reopening ceremony of Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris, provided an opportunity for the three leaders to discuss critical issues of peace and international security.

“Let us continue joint efforts for peace and security,” stated the French president on X, emphasizing the importance of the meeting.

A symbolic meeting and cordial exchanges

Volodymyr Zelensky joined the Élysée’s golden room, where Emmanuel Macron and Donald Trump were already in discussion. The three leaders posed for cameras, appearing solemn before moving on to their talks.

At the conclusion of the meeting, Donald Trump and Volodymyr Zelensky shared a handshake in the Élysée courtyard. On X, the Ukrainian president described the meeting as “fruitful”:
“We talked about our people, the situation on the ground, and a just peace. We agreed to continue working together and to stay in contact.”

From the French perspective, Emmanuel Macron’s team described the discussion as a “very good conversation” to France Télévisions.

A tense context over U.S. support

Donald Trump’s election, with his term set to begin on January 20, has raised concerns in Europe about the continuation of U.S. support for Ukraine. Facing ongoing threats from Russia, Ukraine is enduring significant military challenges, making this meeting all the more strategic.