Zelenskyy reiterates Kyiv's stance of ensuring 'just peace' in Ukraine war as he meets Trump, Macron

While participating in a trilateral meeting with US President-elect Donald Trump and French President Emmanuel Macron, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy reiterated that any settlement in the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war will have to ensure just peace

Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Emmanuel Macron and Donald Trump leaving their meeting at the Élysée presidential palace in Paris on 7 December 2024. AFP

In a meeting with US President-elect Donald Trump, Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that any settlement with Russia after its invasion had to be “just”. Zelenskyy’s proclamation came amid growing fear in Kyiv over how Trump will respond to the ongoing war when he comes back to power.

On Saturday, French President Emmanuel Macron hosted a three-way talk with Zelenskyy and Trump at the Élysée Palace. The meeting was held on the sidelines of the re-opening ceremony of the Notre Dame Cathedral. Interestingly, hours after the trilateral meeting, the outgoing administration of US President Joe Biden announced a new $988 million military assistance package for Ukraine.

The package from Washington featured drones, ammunition for precision Himars rocket launchers, and equipment and spare parts for artillery systems, tanks and armoured vehicles, the Pentagon said in a statement.

Zelenskyy’s request to Trump

Zelenskyy met Trump and Macron before the three leaders headed to Notre Dame for the reopening ceremony. This was the first face-to-face meeting between Trump and Zelenskyy after the Republican firebrand won the November 5 polls against Vice President Kamala Harris.

“We all want peace. But it is very important for us … that the peace is just for all of us and that Russia, (Russian President Vladimir) Putin or any other aggressor has no possibility of ever returning,” Zelenskyy told Trump according to the Ukrainian presidential website.

“And this is the most important thing – a just peace and security guarantees, strong security guarantees for Ukraine,” he added. Meanwhile, Trump spoke about the “quick settlement” of the war. In the past, Trump has boasted about ending the conflict within 24 hours.

Some of the proclamations made by Trump raised fears in Kyiv, that Ukraine might have to give up some of its territories to Russia. During the meeting, Zelenskyy thanked Trump for his “unwavering resolve” describing the talks as “good and productive”. Meanwhile, the US President-elect was given a full guard of honour despite not yet being in office.

“It seems like the world is going a little crazy right now and we will be talking about that,” Trump told reporters as he prepared to sit down for the talks with Macron. Despite the tensions between the two leaders, Trump hailed ties with the centrist French leader, saying: “We had a great relationship as everyone knows. We accomplished a lot.”

Macron responded to Trump’s gesture and said it was “a great honour for French people to welcome you” for the reopening ceremony at Notre Dame, which was devastated by a blaze in 2019 during Trump’s first term.

“You were president at that time and I remember the solidarity and the immediate reaction,” Macron added, speaking in English. France has been keeping a close eye on the upcoming Trump administration as it seeks to be an intermediary between Trump’s Washington and Europe.