In brief
The meeting marks Zelensky's first face-to-face interaction with Trump post-election, highlighting Ukraine's shifting stance toward potential negotiations.
President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine met with President-elect Donald J. Trump and President Emmanuel Macron of France ahead of the grand reopening of Notre-Dame Cathedral on Saturday, seizing the opportunity to advocate for Ukraine's position to the world leaders present. This encounter marked the first in-person meeting between Zelensky and Trump since the latter’s election victory last month.Upon entering the Élysée Palace, Zelensky joined Trump and Macron for photos before their trilateral discussion. With the Ukrainian administration eager to align itself with Trump’s incoming government, Kyiv's officials have been engaging in discussions focused on ending the ongoing war with Russia, but they worry that Trump's ambiguous approach—especially his promise to conclude the war in just 24 hours—might allow Russia to retain its hold on captured territories, sidelining Ukraine's aspirations for NATO membership as a necessary security assurance.Earlier in the week, a group of senior Ukrainian officials, led by Andriy Yermak, Zelensky’s influential chief of staff, visited the U.S. to communicate directly with key members of Trump’s team, including Vice President-elect JD Vance, Representative Mike Waltz, who is designated to be the national security adviser, and Keith Kellogg, Trump’s nominee for envoy to Ukraine and Russia. According to Volodymyr Fesenko, a Ukrainian political analyst, this engagement seeks to position Yermak as the chief negotiator for Ukraine while presenting its stance on future peace discussions.This outreach comes as Ukraine appears to be recalibrating its previously resolute position against ceding any territory to Russia. Recently, Zelensky expressed openness to trading territorial concessions for NATO membership, a pivot that reflects Ukraine's willingness to negotiate. In interviews, he has emphasized his desire to collaborate directly with Trump and explore new ideas moving forward.Zelensky has communicated with Trump multiple times over the year, signaling a proactive approach in addressing Ukraine’s concerns in the evolving geopolitical landscape. This strategy illustrates Ukraine's readiness for compromises in exchange for security assurances and indicates a crucial moment in the ongoing dialogue with the United States, as both nations navigate the complexities of the conflict with Russia.
