Diplomatic Prospects Arise Amid Cathedral Reopening as Trump Prepares to Meet Macron and Zelenskyy | US News
Donald Trump has arrived in France today, where he is set to meet with various global leaders for the first time following his re-election.
Among the discussions, it is expected that he will have an audience with Prince William.
Heads of state and representatives from over 50 nations are in Paris to observe the reopening of the Notre-Dame Cathedral, which suffered extensive damage due to a fire in April 2019.
Discover more:
A look inside Notre-Dame cathedral – five years post-fire
Prince William’s attendance at Notre-Dame reopening
The US president-elect was invited by French President Emmanuel Macron, marking his first official foreign visit since his election win in November and his first trip out of the US since 2023.
Sources indicate that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy will also be in attendance, although no meeting with Mr. Trump has been officially arranged.
First Lady Jill Biden will also be present at the Notre-Dame event, while President Joe Biden has just returned from a visit to Angola and is not anticipated to attend.
“I am honored to announce that I will be traveling to Paris, France, on Saturday to attend the reopening of the magnificent and historic Notre Dame Cathedral, which has been completely restored after the devastating fire five years ago,” Mr. Trump stated earlier this week on his platform, Truth Social.
The ceremonial reopening of the cathedral, combined with the presence of the US president-elect and other global leaders, turns the weekend into a notably significant diplomatic event.
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Trump’s strategy to end the Ukraine war?
Mr. Trump’s proposals for resolving the Ukraine war are at the forefront of European leaders’ considerations. He is scheduled to have bilateral discussions with President Macron at the Elysee Palace, and although a meeting with President Zelenskyy is not currently confirmed, it seems probable that one could take shape.
In an exclusive interview with Sky News’ Stuart Ramsay last week, President Zelenskyy expressed that a ceasefire agreement could be possible if the territories under his control were included “under the NATO umbrella,” allowing him to negotiate for the return of remaining territories later “in a diplomatic manner.”
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Zelenskyy proposes mechanisms for a ceasefire
Mr. Trump has consistently asserted that he would swiftly bring an end to the conflict, but has yet to outline how he intends to achieve this. A potential meeting between Mr. Trump and Mr. Zelenskyy, which President Macron would likely want to facilitate, could mark the initial step towards formulating a peace framework.
The rapport between Mr. Trump and Mr. Macron has been complex at times. Mr. Macron served as President of France during Mr. Trump’s previous term, and today’s meeting will be one of many encounters between the two.
Mr. Macron once extended an invitation to Mr. Trump to attend a Bastille Day military parade on the Champs-Elysees in 2017, during which the two leaders engaged in a notably extended handshake. Later, Mr. Trump and former First Lady Melania Trump hosted Mr. Macron and his wife Brigitte for a state visit at the White House in 2018.
Donald Trump and Emmanuel Macron shaking hands during a meeting at the D-Day commemorations in 2019. Pic: Reuters
Prime Minister Keir Starmer is not anticipated to attend the event, as invitations were extended solely to heads of state, not heads of government. Prince William is attending on behalf of King Charles.
It has been reported that the prince’s participation was arranged at the last moment. He last encountered Mr. Trump in 2019, during the then-president’s state visit to the UK. The president-elect has frequently expressed his admiration for the British Royal Family.
