President-elect Donald Trump claims that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky ‘wants to have a ceasefire’ with Russia and described Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni as a ‘real live wire’.
Trump, 78, told the New York Post about his discussion with Zelensky during his time in France where he and other world leaders gathered for the opening of Notre Dame over the weekend.
Speaking of Zelensky, Trump told the outlet ‘He wants to make peace. That’s new.’
‘He wants to have a ceasefire. He wants to make peace. We didn’t talk about the details. He thinks it’s time, and Putin should think it’s time because he’s lost — when you lose 700,000 people, it’s time. It’s not going to end until there’s a peace,’ the 45th president added.
The president-elect added that he is ‘formulating a concept of how to end that ridiculous war’.
The move comes as Vladimir Putin’s army seeks to seize as much territory as possible ahead of Trump’s return to the White House.
Putin is adamant that Ukraine must remain a ‘neutral state’ that is not part of NATO. He claims that Western powers – particularly the US and UK – are fighting a war with Russia through Ukraine which he sees as a vassal state.
The war is now entering what some Russian and Western officials say could be its most dangerous phase amid fears Trump could dramatically reduce aid to Ukraine as he seeks to force a ceasefire deal.
Recapping his meetings, Trump went on to detail his interaction with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, as he called her a ‘real live wire’.
‘I was with her a lot,’ he said, referring to the time they spent together during the world leader’s reception. ‘She’s a real live wire. I will tell you. She’s great.’
During his time in France, Trump was seen awkwardly shaking hands with the President Macron as part of the ceremony to commemorate the renovation of the iconic cathedral, which was ravaged by a devastating fire in 2019.
The leaders first vigorously shook hands at Macron’s official residence, with Trump clasping the French premier’s from above in a bizarre gesture.
A second, even longer handshake took place at Notre Dame where the presidents clasped hands so tightly they almost appeared to be tussling as they jerked their arms back and forth.
The handshakes have been described as a ‘power move’ by online commenters who pointed out the pair had a history of such behavior.
Trump wrote when he accepted the invitation earlier this week that the French premier had done ‘a wonderful job ensuring that Notre Dame has been restored to its full level of glory, and even more so. It will be a very special day for all!’
He touched down at Paris’ Orly Airport on Saturday morning and has more than 20 French government security agents helping ensure his safety alongside the Secret Service, according to French national police.
A special French police van has also provided anti-drone protection for Trump’s convoy.
‘President Trump is back to dominating world leaders with his handshake,’ one person wrote on X.
‘Macron is going to need a hand massage after all that twisting and pulling Trump did to him,’ another said.
‘Trump is going to rip out Macron’s arm if they exchange another handshake tonight,’ a third joked.
He told The Post that he shared a ‘firm handshake’ with the leader of France.
‘He understands that. It’s just a firm shake,’ he added.
Macron, who has had an up-and-down relationship with Trump, has made a point of cultivating ties with the president-elect since he defeated Vice President Kamala Harris last month.
But his office nonetheless played down the significance of the invitation, saying that other politicians who do not currently hold office had been invited as well.
Trump was invited as president-elect of a ‘friendly nation,’ Macron’s office said, adding, ‘This is in no way exceptional, we’ve done it before.’
President Joe Biden was invited as well, but did not attend as White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre cited a scheduling conflict.
In his absence, First Lady Jill Biden attended alongside their daughter Ashley, as Trump made a suggestive statement about his viral intimate moment with her.
Pictures of the soon-to-be president with the smiling first lady at the reopening of the Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris, France, sent social media users into a frenzy.
Many claimed that Jill looked incredibly animated during the cordial rendezvous – as the partisan pair leaned into one another and made small talk in the City of Love.
And Trump, 78, has now monopolized on the viral comments, implying that Mrs Biden is attracted to him by sharing a screenshot of the moment on Truth Social.
He overlaid the photo of beaming Jill Biden with the caption: ‘A fragrance your enemies can’t resist’, while plugging his ‘Fight Fight Fight’ perfume brand.
After seeing the doting images of the political pair online, internet personality Nick Sortor wrote on X: ‘Jill DEFINITELY voted for President Trump.’
Trump told The Post that the chat he had with the first lady was ‘very nice’ and that ‘she couldn’t have been nicer.’
‘It’s politics. You have to get used to it. She was very nice and we had a very nice conversation.’
He also shared a one-on-one moment with Prince William, where the future president was ‘parental’ toward him, according to a body language expert.
The Prince of Wales and president-elect were all smiles when they met at the residence of the British ambassador.
In what was his first meeting with a member of the Royal Family since his election victory last month, Trump praised William, calling him a ‘good man’.
Speaking to , expert Judi James said: ‘Trump uses several touch rituals with William to suggest a friendly, almost parental approach, even adding some verbal endorsements as though William needed his approval.’
Footage showed Trump fondly touching William on the shoulder as they greeted each other at the Notre-Dame Cathedral reception.
Trump told The Post that he talked to Prince William about his wife and father amidst their cancer recovery.
‘I had a great talk with the prince. And I asked him about his wife and he said she’s doing well. And I asked him about his father and his father is fighting very hard, and he loves his father and he loves his wife, so it was sad.
‘We had a great talk for half an hour, a little more than half an hour. We had a great, great talk,’ Trump revealed.
He also nodded at the Prince’s good looks, telling the outlet: ‘He’s a good looking guy.’
‘He looked really, very handsome last night. Some people look better in person? He looked great. He looked really nice, and I told him that.’
Overall, Trump said he really enjoyed his time there, adding that ‘we got along great,’ in reference to the group of world leaders that were in attendance.
He noted that the group was ‘similar’ to what he experienced four years ago when he was president, and that he hopes they can all come together to ‘straighten out the world a little bit.’
In terms of the French cathedral, Trump was very honored to be there following the ‘very sad day in the world when it was burning.’
‘You know, it represented one of the ultimate places for religion and for Christianity, and I thought it was a really sad day. So I was invited by the prime minister and he treated our country very nicely, and he did a great job.’