In a magazine interview Paris Match published this Wednesday, the president-elect believes that «the Middle East is also a big priority, but (…) it is a less difficult situation to manage than Ukraine and Russia».
US President-elect Donald Trump said his priority would be to “resolve Ukraine's problem with Russia”among the multiple crises underway in the world, in an interview with the magazine Paris Match published this Wednesday. “The priority is to resolve the Ukraine problem with Russia. These two countries are suffering incredible human losses. Hundreds of thousands of soldiers are killed.Donald Trump told the weekly on Saturday during his visit to Paris for the reopening of Notre-Dame Cathedral.
“There are a lot of crises in the world. In recent days, we have had news in Syria. They will have to fend for themselves because we are not involved there, and neither is France.”he added. “The Middle East is also a big priority, but I think it is a less difficult situation to manage than Ukraine and Russia”he clarified.
Zelensky was ready to “make a deal and end this madness”
Donald Trump, who will take office on January 20, has long asserted that once in power, he would end “24 hours” to the conflict which has lasted for almost three years, raising concerns in Ukraine, which fears being pushed into making significant territorial concessions to Russia in exchange for peace. On Saturday, for the first time since his election, Trump met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Paris, under the auspices of French President Emmanuel Macron.
The next day he called for a “immediate ceasefire” and negotiations, writing on his Truth Social platform that Zelensky was ready to “make a deal and put an end to this madness”. The Ukrainian president, for his part, expressed his “deep gratitude” towards the Republican president for “her strong determination” to end the war with Russia.
France “a friend and an ally”
In this interview with Paris Match, Donald Trump recalled that France constituted “a friend and an ally” of the United States, emphasizing the importance of trade and defense in relations between the two countries.
Asked about the priorities given to relations between Paris and Washington, Donald Trump, who stressed having “always had good relations” with French President Emmanuel Macron, responded: “first of all, trade”before mentioning his wish to “also focus on defense”. “We are going to do a lot of business with France. You are already selling us your wonderful wines and champagnes”he added while the French industry fears a strengthening of customs duties, as the Republican candidate affirmed on numerous occasions during his campaign.
During his first term in the White House, the Republican imposed a 25% surcharge on certain European wines as part of a long dispute between Europe and the United States over public aid for aeronautics.
Donald Trump also defended his choice to appoint Charles Kushner, the father of his son-in-law Jared Kushner, as United States ambassador to France, assuming a “special treatment”. “It’s a good thing because he’s part of our family.”he said, describing him as a “very good friend” and a “very talented man”. “He is delighted with this mission. France was his first choice”added the future American leader.
Mr. Kushner, a 70-year-old real estate mogul, spent a year in federal prison for tax embezzlement, before being pardoned by Donald Trump towards the end of his first term in the White House, in December 2020.
Since his election against Kamala Harris on November 5, Mr. Trump, who will take office on January 20, has made a number of sensational appointments within his administration, surrounding himself with loyalists with often controversial profiles.
