Ukraine’s Zelensky heads to Paris with possible Trump talks in mind, sources say

PARIS - Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky will travel to Paris to attend

the re-opening of Notre-Dame cathedral

on Dec 7, and could use the trip to hold talks with US President-elect Donald Trump, two diplomatic sources said.

There were efforts to arrange the meeting between Mr Zelensky and Trump, who is

also attending the celebrations,

the two sources said.

The plans would probably not come together until the last minute and any talks would be discreet, they added.

A Ukrainian delegation met on Dec 4 with senior Trump aides, two sources familiar with the meeting said, as Ukraine seeks support from the incoming US team for

its fight to repel Russia's invasion.

The Ukrainian delegation was led by Mr Andriy Yermak, a top aide to Mr Zelensky.

The group met in Washington with Trump's choice for White House national security adviser, Mr Mike Waltz, and his Ukraine envoy, General Keith Kellogg, one of the sources said, without providing details.

Trump has vowed to bring about a negotiated end to the nearly three-year-old war between Ukraine and Russia, but has not provided details.

French President Emmanuel Macron will meet Trump late on Dec 7 afternoon at the presidential palace and meet Mr Zelensky immediately afterwards, the French presidency said.

It did not say whether Mr Zelensky and Trump would meet at that point, although one source said a trilateral meeting was possible.

Any meeting in Paris would be an opportunity for Mr Zelensky to set out his case for support and assess Trump's views.

The two men also met at the UN General Assembly in September.

With France in political deadlock following

the fall of the government

on Dec 5, Mr Macron will also hope to shine on the international stage by bringing the two leaders together and showing that Paris has a key role in its support for Ukraine, and in any future negotiations, diplomats said. REUTERS