President-elect Donald Trump stated that resolving the crisis in Ukraine will be his top priority, acknowledging the complexity of the issue compared to the Middle East.
"Both Ukraine and Russia have suffered unimaginable losses. Hundreds of thousands of soldiers have died," Trump said in an interview with the French magazine Paris Match, published today.
"The Middle East is, of course, a significant priority, but I believe the situation in Ukraine and Russia is more challenging," he added, responding to a question about his administration's foremost foreign policy objectives.
The president-elect emphasized that both crises demand swift resolution due to the immense human toll. He described his recent meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Paris as "productive." President Zelensky expressed gratitude on December 10 for Trump’s "strong determination" to end the war in Ukraine.
During his campaign, Trump claimed he could end the conflict in Ukraine within 24 hours. On December 8, he reiterated on Truth Social that "a ceasefire must be enacted immediately, and negotiations should commence."
According to Reuters, Trump, French President Emmanuel Macron, and President Zelensky engaged in a private 35-minute discussion on December 7 in Paris, without the presence of advisors. This marked Trump’s first meeting with Zelensky since his election victory.
Although specific details of a peace vision were not discussed, Trump reportedly reiterated his call for an immediate ceasefire and negotiations to end the conflict quickly. Sources indicated that Trump was amicable, respectful, and attentive during the conversation with Zelensky.
"Key issues were addressed, such as the need for peace guarantees beyond just a ceasefire. Russia has violated ceasefires before," a source from Zelensky’s office noted. Asked how Trump responded to this perspective, the source said, "He is carefully considering all details."
Ukraine has long urged the Biden administration to support its NATO membership bid, arguing that security guarantees are essential to prevent future conflicts with Russia. Although Zelensky recently emphasized that the war must end through diplomatic means to minimize bloodshed, Ukraine maintains its push for NATO inclusion.
Several of Trump’s close advisors revealed that his meetings focus on building personal relationships, a cornerstone of his diplomatic strategy before formulating actionable policies. In Paris, Macron and Zelensky aligned in their discussions but were cautious not to appear overbearing. Both leaders emphasized to Trump that U.S. support is vital to Ukraine's resilience.
Zelensky reportedly believes that Russian President Vladimir Putin is wary of Trump and, to some extent, China. He argued that lasting peace requires firm U.S. resolve, according to a Ukrainian official.
Trump has frequently criticized European powers for not contributing enough to NATO's security challenges in the region. Sources said Macron used the Paris meeting to highlight Europe’s significant efforts in supporting Ukraine and expressed willingness to share the security burden more equitably with the U.S.
French and Ukrainian leaders also conveyed to Trump that Putin’s current stance is vastly different from when Trump first engaged with him in 2017 during his initial term, when U.S.-Russia relations were relatively positive.
Trump’s team has not commented on the reports.
Neither Trump nor his key advisors on Ukraine have publicly detailed their approach to resolving the conflict or their stance on Ukraine's request for security guarantees.
(Sources: Reuters, AFP)
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