A tripartite meeting between French President Emmanuel Macron, US President-elect Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky took place in Paris at the Elysee, shortly before the start of the festivities for the restoration of Notre-Dame de Paris.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky arrived at the Elysee Palace this afternoon where Donald Trump was already there. Volodymyr Zelensky was received by the head of protocol at the Elysee.

This is the first meeting between the Ukrainian leader and the American president after his election in November.

The talks were held inside the Elysee Palace ahead of the reopening ceremony of Notre Dame Cathedral.

After the end of the talks, which lasted about 35 minutes, Trump and Zelensky exchanged a historic handshake in the courtyard of the Elysee Palace.

The motorcades of Trump and Zelensky then headed one after the other to Notre-Dame de Paris, for the two leaders to attend the cathedral’s reopening ceremony.

It is noted that Trump has repeatedly criticized US military aid to Kiev, unlike current President Joe Biden. Fears about his Ukraine policy intensified when he appointed Keith Kellogg as envoy for the conflict in Ukraine, who in an earlier posting had called on Kiev to make concessions to end the war.

He was preceded by the president-elect of the United States, Donald Trump, who had arrived a little earlier at the Elysee Palace, where he was welcomed by Emmanuel Macron, for his first visit abroad after his election.

Upon his arrival, Trump exchanged several handshakes with Emmanuel Macron on the steps of the Presidential Palace.

“It is a great honor for the French people to welcome you. Welcome back,” Emmanuel Macron told him.

“It is an honor to be here,” replied Mr. Trump, emphasizing his “excellent relations” with the French president. “We’ve had great success working together,” he said. “People seem to be a little crazy right now,” he added, in front of the cameras.