War in Ukraine: Zelensky and Trump in Paris with Macron, security treaty between Russia and Belarus… update on the situation

Reopening of Notre-Dame: Zelensky, Macron, Trump… a possible meeting?

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is expected on Saturday to participate in the reopening ceremony of Notre-Dame de Paris cathedral, burned in April 2019, we learned on Friday from consistent diplomatic sources.

“Zelensky is expected in Paris”one of these sources told AFP. Another indicated that its presence had been confirmed, provided that security conditions were met.

French President Emmanuel Macron will receive United States President-elect Donald Trump and his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelensky at the Elysée on Saturday before the reopening of Notre-Dame de Paris.

The Elysée did not give details on a possible three-way meeting between the presidents, nor on a possible meeting between Donald Trump and Volodymyr Zelensky which would be their first meeting since the American election.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr may meet US President-elect Donald Trump in Paris. “The Ukrainian president will attend the celebrations on the occasion of the restoration of Notre-Dame Cathedral. He will meet with President (French Emmanuel) Macron. Other meetings are also possible, notably with President-elect Donald Trump, who will also attend at the event“, this source told AFP.

Russia and Belarus sign security treaty

Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Belarusian counterpart Alexander Lukashenko signed a treaty in Minsk on Friday providing for mutual security guarantees, reports the TASS news agency. The signing ceremony took place on the occasion of the 25th anniversary of the treaty on the creation of the Union of Russia and Belarus in 1999.

The security treaty “will reliably ensure the security of Russia and Belarus, thereby creating conditions for deep, peaceful and sustainable development of both states”declared Vladimir Putin, according to comments reported by TASS.

Russia deployed nuclear warheads in Belarus, a neighboring and ally state, in 2023, the first deployment of this type since the end of the USSR in 1991. Vladimir Putin declared on Friday that Russia would deploy in the second half of 2025, on the territory Belarusian Orechnik medium-range ballistic missiles.

“I think this will be possible in the second half of next year, with mass production of these systems intensifying in Russia where they are at the disposal of Russian strategic forces”he declared. In November, Russia tested a missile of this type on Dnipro in Ukraine, which can carry a nuclear charge.

Belarus borders Poland, Latvia and Lithuania, which are members of NATO.

Putin considers deployment of Russian Orechnik missiles in Belarus “possible” in the second half of 2025

Vladimir Putin ruled on Friday “possible” a deployment in Belarus of latest generation Russian Orechnik missiles, which can carry a nuclear charge, from the second half of 2025, in the midst of renewed Russian-Western tensions.

“I consider that the positioning of (Russian) weapons such as Oreshnik on the territory of Belarus is possible”declared the Russian president alongside his Belarusian counterpart Alexander Lukashenko, after signing a mutual agreement on security guarantees in Minsk. The master of the Kremlin mentioned the possible date of “second half of next year”.

Seven people killed by Russian strike on Zaporizhzhia

The death toll from Friday’s Russian strike on the southern town of Zaporizhia rose to at least 10 dead and 20 injured, including three children, Ukrainian emergency services announced.

“Zaporizhia. 10 people died and 20 were injured. The fire in the gas station building and six cars was extinguished”wrote the national emergency services on their Telegram account.