Trump Claims Zelensky Open to Russia Deal During Paris Meeting Hosted by Macron

Newly elected U.S. President Donald Trump has claimed that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is interested in brokering a deal with Russia to bring an end to the prolonged conflict in Eastern Europe. The comments were made public through a statement Trump posted on his social media platform, Truth Social, on Sunday, following a high-profile meeting in Paris the previous day.

According to sources familiar with the discussions, the three-way meeting, which took place on Saturday at the Élysée Palace, was arranged by French President Emmanuel Macron in an attempt to gauge whether renewed diplomatic efforts could break the ongoing stalemate in Ukraine. Diplomats in attendance said the talks featured candid exchanges between Trump, Zelensky, and Macron, reflecting the complexity of ending a conflict that has spanned nearly three years and drawn significant international involvement.

Trump’s public statement came less than 24 hours after the meeting concluded, making waves through both European and American political circles. “Zelensky and Ukraine will choose the path of reaching an agreement to put an end to this madness,” Trump wrote. “An immediate ceasefire and the start of negotiations should take place. Too many lives have been lost unnecessarily, and if this continues, it could escalate into something much bigger and worse.”

This shift in tone suggests that Trump, who was recently elected as the next U.S. president and will assume office in January, is positioning himself as a key figure in potentially mediating an end to the hostilities. During his election campaign, Trump frequently questioned the massive levels of U.S. military support being sent to Ukraine, mocking what he described as endless shipments of aid and arms. He repeatedly claimed he could end the war within “24 hours” if given the authority, though he never clarified the exact measures he would take to achieve such a result.

For Zelensky, the meeting in Paris represented a carefully choreographed encounter. The Ukrainian leader, who has been managing a delicate balance between seeking stronger Western support and maintaining the credibility of his country’s sovereignty, has not publicly confirmed Trump’s claim that he is seeking a formal agreement with Russia. The Ukrainian presidency did not issue an immediate statement on Sunday regarding the specifics of the meeting. However, diplomats close to Zelensky say he remains open to exploring all avenues for peace, provided Ukraine’s core interests—its territorial integrity, security guarantees, and just reparations—are not compromised.

Despite Trump’s assertive message, many analysts remain cautious about interpreting Zelensky’s stance. Observers note that the Ukrainian leader has long insisted that any negotiation must involve the restoration of internationally recognized borders and must not reward aggression. With years of devastating fighting, international sanctions crippling the Russian economy, and Europe’s energy landscape fundamentally altered, the space for a straightforward “deal” remains uncertain.

The timing of this high-level interaction in Paris is also significant. It comes amid apparent uncertainties in Washington’s foreign policy approach as the Biden administration’s tenure draws to a close. Just hours after the meeting, the current U.S. administration, led by President Joe Biden, announced a new $1 billion military assistance package to Ukraine. This latest round of support reportedly includes advanced drones, tanks, armored vehicles, ammunition for HIMARS rocket launchers, artillery system components, and a wide array of crucial spare parts.

For the Biden White House, the move underscores a continued commitment to bolstering Ukraine’s defensive capabilities, signaling that any speculation about an abrupt shift in U.S. policy under Trump’s incoming leadership should be viewed with caution. While the Biden administration did not address Trump’s statements directly, a senior U.S. official, speaking on condition of anonymity, described the latest aid package as “a sign that Washington stands firmly behind Ukraine’s sovereignty and its right to defend itself against aggression, regardless of political cycles.”

France’s Macron, who has attempted to position Paris as a diplomatic conduit capable of hosting sensitive discussions, played a visible yet neutral role during the talks. Officials at the Élysée Palace said the French president is eager to maintain open communication channels and reduce the risk of miscalculation. At the same time, Macron has historically tried to balance efforts to contain Russian ambitions with maintaining Europe’s moral and strategic stance in support of Ukrainian sovereignty. The French leader has repeatedly stressed that any deal must include substantial concessions from Russia, which invaded Ukraine in February 2022.

European capitals reacted with a mixture of skepticism and cautious optimism to Trump’s claims. In Berlin, officials noted that Germany remains committed to supporting Ukraine’s right to self-defense, while also hoping that the diplomatic track might produce tangible results. In Warsaw, a Polish foreign ministry spokesperson said that any agreement must preserve Ukraine’s territorial integrity and ensure lasting security arrangements, hinting at a broader NATO consensus that peace cannot come at the cost of legitimizing the invasion.

Moscow’s immediate response to these developments has been muted. Russian state media outlets continued their usual narrative, depicting the conflict as a defensive operation against NATO encroachment and Ukrainian aggression. The Kremlin’s spokesperson Dmitry Peskov merely stated that Russia stands ready for negotiations if Kyiv “acknowledges the realities on the ground,” a phrase often used to imply that Ukraine should accept Russian control over territories it has seized.

The path ahead remains unclear. International diplomatic veterans warn that any agreement capable of ending the war would require substantial compromises that both Kyiv and Moscow have so far been unwilling to make. Key unresolved issues include the future status of annexed regions, security guarantees against future invasions, and possible reparations or sanctions relief. Each side’s willingness to move on these points will define the shape and durability of any potential settlement.

For now, Trump’s assertion that Zelensky is “choosing the path” toward an agreement should be seen as part of a larger and more complex negotiation process, one that will likely continue through backchannels and multilateral forums before any lasting accord emerges. As the world waits to see how Trump’s foreign policy will differ from his predecessor’s, the fate of Ukraine still hinges on multiple factors: the continued flow of Western military aid, the resilience of Ukraine’s defense forces, the pressures mounting inside Russia, and the broader diplomatic environment shaped by European mediation efforts.

With the conflict approaching the three-year mark, all sides face increasing pressure to find a viable off-ramp. Whether the Paris meeting marked the beginning of a genuine diplomatic push or a strategic maneuver by Trump to influence the narrative remains to be seen. What is clear is that the stakes remain extraordinarily high and the clock is ticking for a meaningful resolution that could spare countless lives and restore some measure of stability to a region in turmoil.