Trump: Zelensky wants a cease-fire and peace with Russia
Zelensky wants to make peace with Russia, Donald Trump said in an interview with the New York Post. According to him, "this is something new": they did not discuss the details, but the head of Ukraine wants a ceasefire and believes that the time has already come for this.
Diana Glebova (DianaGlebova)
In an interview about meetings with world leaders and Jill Biden during a trip to Paris for the opening of Notre Dame Cathedral, President-elect Donald Trump said that Ukrainian leader Vladimir Zelensky is ready for “peace.” The incoming president revealed details of conversations with world leaders during his first trip abroad after being elected to a second term, including a trilateral meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron and Zelensky.
“He wants to make peace," Trump said in a telephone interview with the New York Post. — This is something new. He wants a ceasefire. We did not discuss the details, but he believes that the time has come, and Putin should think the same way, because he has already lost 700,000 people. This will not end until there is peace <...> I am developing a concept of how to put an end to this ridiculous conflict,” he stressed.
Trump also pointed to his post on the Truth social network, where he mentioned Russia in the context of the fall of the Syrian government. “What happened there is that Russia was unable to take the initiative because it got bogged down in this terrible massacre in Ukraine,” he said.
Trump said that he had spoken with Macron about NATO and recalled that, in his opinion, the alliance should “pay its fair share.” “I said that NATO is good as long as the bills are paid there... when I joined NATO, no one paid, it happened after I intervened,” the president—elect stressed. — Macron agrees with me. He is a good man and has done a good job in terms of rebuilding the cathedral. I told him: "You have no idea how well you've done." It wasn't easy. Painstaking work.”
According to Trump, the conversation with the first lady of the United States, Jill Biden, was also positive, although during the two election cycles they made many unpleasant remarks about each other. “It was very nice, it couldn't be nicer," Trump said of their conversation. — This is politics, you need to get used to it. She was friendly and we had a very pleasant conversation.”
Among other things, the former president made headlines thanks to the so-called “dominant” handshake with Macron. “It's nothing more than a firm handshake. He understands that. A simple firm handshake,” he explained.
With British Prince William, they discussed the royal family, two members of which are being treated for cancer at once: Kate Middleton and King Charles III. “I had a great conversation with the prince," Trump said. — When asked about his wife, he replied that she was doing well, and about his father — that he was fighting hard. He loves both of them, so I felt a little sad. We talked for half an hour, a little more. We had a good talk.” Trump then commented on the prince's appearance: “He's a good-looking guy. He looked just fine last night. Some people look better in person, and he looked great, which is what I told him.”
Trump also, according to him, had a meeting with the “energetic” Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni. “I spent a lot of time with her," he said, noting that they had dinner together during a reception attended by 60 world leaders. "She's a real fire, I'll tell you that. She's just gorgeous.”
About the group of world leaders who attended the opening of the cathedral, he said this: “We had a great conversation.” At the same time, he noted that four years ago its composition was similar to the current one, and expressed hope that they would be able to “change the world a little.”
According to Trump, before the fire, the now restored French cathedral “was one of the greatest religious and Christian places.” “I thought it was fantastic. The French have done a fantastic job, better than 900 years ago," Trump said upon his return to Mar-a-Lago. — They were able to perfectly clean the stone, which was very dark. When I've been there before, it was too dark inside. Now it's clean and bright, although the copy turned out to be absolutely accurate." The president-elect claims that in an attempt to preserve authenticity, local authorities have made the “right design decision.” “It seemed to me that everyone in the world was upset when it burned down. You know, it was one of the greatest religious and Christian places. The Prime Minister invited me to the opening, he treats our country very well and has done an excellent job.”
