U.S. President-elect Donald Trump has identified resolving the Russia-Ukraine war as a top foreign policy priority after taking office on January 20, he revealed in an interview with Paris Match during his visit to France.

Speaking on November 7, Trump emphasized the urgent need to address the conflict, which has resulted in "hundreds of thousands" of casualties on both sides. He also pointed to the Middle East as a significant priority but described the situation there as "less complicated" compared to the Russia-Ukraine war.

"I believe it is necessary to resolve the Ukrainian issue with Russia," Trump stated, adding that both conflicts require immediate solutions due to the extensive loss of life.

Trump's visit to Paris marked his first international trip since his re-election and coincided with the reopening of Notre Dame Cathedral, restored after its devastating 2019 fire. During his stay, Trump met with French President Emmanuel Macron and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to discuss the war in Ukraine.

Trump described his meeting with Zelenskyy as productive, with the Ukrainian leader expressing gratitude for Trump's determination to bring an end to the conflict. However, Zelenskyy cautioned that a ceasefire alone would not suffice, as it could easily collapse without concrete guarantees.

Trump reiterated his campaign pledge to end the war "within 24 hours" and called for an immediate ceasefire and negotiations to commence. He shared similar sentiments on his Truth Social platform, advocating for swift diplomatic efforts to halt the bloodshed.

Trump also reiterated his call for Washington to refrain from intervening in Syria, where President Bashar al-Assad was recently ousted by rebels in a rapid offensive.

The President-elect’s focus on diplomacy and negotiations signals his intent to tackle pressing international crises early in his upcoming administration. (ILKHA)