PARIS (AP) — French President Emmanuel Macron welcomed Donald Trump in Paris on Saturday with all the presidential pomp during a hastily arranged meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy before celebrating the grand reopening of Notre Dame Cathedral.
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On a day that mixed celebrations and attention to urgent global issues, the former and next president of the United States received a warm hug from Macron upon arriving at the Élysée Palace.
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"It is a great honor for the French people to welcome you back five years later," Macron told Trump. "Welcome back." Trump said it was "a great honor" to be there.
"Without a doubt, it seems like the world is going a little crazy right now. And we will talk about that," emphasized Trump.
How was Macron's reception for Trump?
A red carpet was rolled out for Trump as Macron gave the kind of welcome that France offers to sitting U.S. presidents, complete with trumpets and uniformed members of the Republican Guard.
It was a clear sign that even though Trump does not take office until January 20, 2025, Macron and other European dignitaries are already working to ingratiate themselves with the Republican.
President Joe Biden declined an invitation to attend the Notre Dame ceremony, which reopened five years after a devastating fire, citing a scheduling conflict at the White House. First Lady Jill Biden was the official representative of the United States.
Macron and leaders throughout Europe are trying to persuade Trump to maintain support for Ukraine in its defense against the Russian invasion. Macron's office stated that the situations in Ukraine and the Middle East were part of the agenda.
Upon Trump's arrival at the official residence, Macron made every effort to project an image of closeness, with several handshakes and pats on the back.
How was the meeting between Trump and Zelenskyy?
Trump was inside for about 90 minutes, meeting first with Macron before being joined by Zelenskyy for about 35 minutes.
Macron had long planned a meeting with Zelenskyy. The office of the French president said that Macron proposed the trilateral talks, which were organized shortly before Trump's arrival.
The president-elect of the United States has promised to quickly end the war in Ukraine but has not specified how, which has caused concern in Kiev regarding the terms that could be established for future negotiations.
A person familiar with Trump's plans had previously said that while Trump and Zelenskyy would attend the cathedral ceremony and related events and would likely interact, Trump's transition team had not coordinated with the government of Ukraine to schedule formal talks.
After the meeting, a senior official from the Trump transition team did not refute the idea that the meeting had been organized at the last minute, but emphasized that it had been "discussed and agreed upon completely."
The three rulers communicated in English, and there was a translator in the room, according to a French official.
Macron has argued that the defeat of Ukraine or a ceasefire with Russia on unfavorable terms for Ukraine would be seen as a defeat for the United States and even for Trump himself, according to two European officials familiar with the matter.
Upon arriving at Notre Dame for the ceremony, Trump was greeted by Macron and his wife, Brigitte.
Inside the cathedral, Trump also greeted Zelenskyy and Prince William of the United Kingdom, with whom he later met at the British Embassy.