In the West, the meeting between Trump and Zelensky was called a preparation for a decision on Ukraine

The West has expressed hope that the trilateral meeting between US President-elect Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy (his term expired on May 20) held at the Elysee Palace with the participation of French leader Emmanuel Macron made it possible to prepare future steps on Ukraine after Trump's inauguration in January. This was reported by The Washington Post with reference to a Western official.

It is noted that the face-to-face meeting between Trump and Zelensky was important, as during it they could exchange their views on the situation and discuss further steps to resolve the conflict in Ukraine. As the interlocutor of the publication added, the communication between Trump and Zelensky could be "very useful" from the point of view of the West.

In addition, the publication added that Trump once again said that he plans to quickly end the Ukrainian conflict, and criticized the United States for spending too much on Kiev.

Cathedral proposal: how Trump and Zelensky met at the opening of Notre Dame de Paris

And why Macron was the beneficiary of the talks between the US president-elect and the head of Ukraine

Earlier in the day, The New York Times reported that the meeting between Trump and Zelensky at the opening of the Cathedral of Notre Dame de Paris demonstrated Kiev's willingness to make concessions on negotiations in the conflict with Russia. It was specified that Ukraine perceived the opening ceremony as an opportunity to get closer to the future US leader and convey to him its position in the conflict. In addition, it was reported that Zelensky's meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron and Trump in Paris lasted about 20 minutes, without a final statement.

Then it was also reported that the Trump team did not support the proposal of the head of Zelensky's office Andrei Yermak on the return of the country to the borders of 2022. It became known that Yermak at a meeting with the Trump team presented proposals on the borders of Ukraine 2022 and joining NATO.

Before that, on December 4, it became known that the Trump team has three plans to resolve the conflict in Ukraine. One of them is the plan of President-elect Keith Kellogg's special envoy for Ukraine and Russia, the second proposal came from Vice President-elect J.D. Vance, and the third was put forward by Richard Grenell, Trump's former acting intelligence chief.

Zelensky and Trump last met on Sept. 27 at Trump Tower in New York City. During the talks, Trump expressed hope that he would be able to find a suitable option for everyone to settle the Ukrainian conflict before his inauguration, if he wins the election in November. In turn, Zelensky presented Trump with a so-called victory plan.

The special operation to protect Donbass, the start of which Russian President Vladimir Putin announced on February 24, 2022, continues. The decision was made against the backdrop of the worsening situation in the region.