Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky described his meeting with US President-elect Donald Trump and French President Emmanuel Macron as “good and productive” on Saturday, adding that they all want the war with Russia to end quickly and “in a just way.”
The leaders met at the Elysee Palace in Paris, nearly three years into Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and ahead of Trump’s inauguration in January.
“I had a good and productive trilateral meeting with President Donald Trump and President Emmanuel Macron at the Elysee Palace,” Zelensky wrote on social media.
“We all want this war to end as soon as possible and in a just way,” he added.
Zelensky thanked Macron for organizing the meeting and commended Trump for his firm stance, saying, “President Trump is, as always, resolute. I thank him.”
He also confirmed that the three leaders had agreed to continue working together and remain in contact. Zelensky’s office released photos of the trio shaking hands inside the Elysee office.
In September, Trump had accused Zelensky of refusing to negotiate a deal to end the war. At a campaign rally in North Carolina, the Republican candidate sharply criticized Ukraine’s leader, claiming, “We continue to give billions of dollars to a man who refuses to make a deal, Zelensky.”
Trump further criticized Zelensky, claiming that every time he visited the US, he walked away with $60 billion, and mocked him by saying, “The country is absolutely obliterated.”
The details of the discussions held at Saturday’s meeting among the leaders have yet to be made public.
