**Ukraine President Zelensky Gets Warm Welcome in Paris**
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky was in high spirits when I met him in Paris. He had just finished a meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron at the Elysee Palace, and then went back for a “tête à tête dinner” afterwards.
The Eiffel Tower, visible from where we were talking, was lit up in yellow and blue – the colors of the Ukrainian flag. This was a clear sign that Zelensky felt welcome in Paris.
**Zelensky Rebuffs US Envoy’s Comments**
Zelensky also used his visit to rebuff comments made by Steve Witkoff, Trump’s special envoy for the Russian-Ukraine conflict. Witkoff had said that the drive by Macron and UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak to create a “coalition of the willing” to support Ukraine was just a posture.
Zelensky said that this was a sign that the US was under the influence of Russian propaganda, and that he couldn’t agree with these narratives. He suggested that Witkoff might be better suited to his old job as a real estate developer in Manhattan.
**Zelensky Optimistic About Support from Europe**
Despite the challenges facing Ukraine, Zelensky seemed optimistic about the support he was receiving from European leaders. He praised Macron and Sunak for their efforts to rally European support and persuade Trump not to cut off intelligence and military aid to Ukraine.
He also seemed happy with his new strategy of agreeing to temporary ceasefires in order to force Putin to show his reluctance to pause the war. Zelensky said that this was a way to make Putin “uncomfortable” and to gain more time for Ukraine to prepare its defense.
**Zelensky’s Goal: To Save Ukraine**
When asked how he was dealing with the pressure, Zelensky said that his goal was to ensure that his children could walk down the street without having to hide. He also joked that he would be remembered as the man who saved Ukraine, rather than Putin who feared his own people.
Overall, Zelensky seemed determined and optimistic about the future of Ukraine, despite the many challenges facing the country.