Ukrainian file
“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 said. Donald Trump, who will take office on January 20, has long asserted that once in power, he would end the conflict which has lasted for almost three years in “24 hours”, raising concerns in Ukraine, which fears being pushed to make significant territorial concessions to Russia in exchange for peace.
On Saturday, for the first time since his election, Donald Trump met Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Paris, under the auspices of French President Emmanuel Macron. The next day, he called for an “immediate ceasefire” and negotiations, writing on his Truth Social platform that Volodymyr Zelensky was ready to “make a deal and end this madness.” The Ukrainian president, for his part, expressed on Tuesday his “deep gratitude” to the Republican billionaire for “his strong determination” to end the war with Russia.
“Good relations” with Emmanuel Macron
Concerned about his relations with France, Donald Trump recalled that it constituted “a friend and an ally” of the United States, insisting on 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, replied: “first of all, trade”, before mentioning his wish to “also concentrate 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 “special treatment”.
