War in Ukraine: Zelensky and Trump in Paris with Macron, security treaty between Russia and Belarus… the latest on the situation

Volodymyr Zelensky à Kiev le 6 décembre 2024. MAXPPP – UKRAINIAN PRESIDENTIAL PRESS SERVICE HANDOUT

Every day, Midi Libre takes stock of the situation in Ukraine. This Friday, December 6, 2024, discover the latest news about this conflict.

Reopening of Notre-Dame: Zelensky, Macron, Trump… a possible meeting ?

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is expected on Saturday to participate in the reopening ceremony of Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris, which burned down in April 2019, we learned on Friday from concordant diplomatic sources.

“Zelensky is expected in Paris”, one of the sources told AFP. Another said his presence had been confirmed, subject to security conditions being met.

French President Emmanuel Macron will receive US President-elect Donald Trump and his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelensky at the Elysée Palace on Saturday before the reopening of Notre-Dame de Paris.

The Elysée Palace did not provide any details on a possible three-way meeting between the presidents, nor on a possible meeting between Donald Trump and Volodymyr Zelensky, which would be their first meeting since the US election.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr could meet US President-elect Donald Trump in Paris. “The Ukrainian president will attend the celebrations on the occasion of the restoration of Notre Dame Cathedral. He will meet with (French) President Emmanuel Macron. Other meetings are also possible, including with President-elect Donald Trump, who will also attend the event,” the source told AFP.

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Russia, Belarus sign security treaty

Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Belarusian counterpart Alexander Lukashenko signed a treaty in Minsk on Friday providing for mutual security guarantees, the TASS news agency reported. The signing ceremony took place on the occasion of the 25th anniversary of the signing of the Treaty on the Creation of the Union of Russia and Belarus in 1999.

The security treaty “will reliably ensure the security of Russia and Belarus, thereby creating conditions for the deep, peaceful and sustainable development of both states”, Vladimir Putin said, according to TASS.

Russia deployed nuclear warheads in neighboring and allied Belarus in 2023, the first such deployment since the collapse of the USSR in 1991. Vladimir Putin said on Friday that Russia would deploy Oreshnik medium-range ballistic missiles on Belarusian territory in the second half of 2025.

“I think this will be possible in the second half of next year, as serial production of these systems will be stepped up in Russia, where they are at the disposal of Russian strategic forces,”, he said. Russia tested a missile of this type, which can carry a nuclear charge, in November over Dnipro, Ukraine.

Belarus borders Poland, Latvia and Lithuania, which are NATO members.

Putin considers it “possible” to deploy Russian Oreshnik missiles in Belarus in the second half of 2025

Vladimir Putin on Friday considered it “possible” to deploy Russian Oreshnik missiles of the latest generation in Belarus, which can carry a nuclear warhead, from the second half of 2025, in the midst of renewed Russian-Western tensions.

“I consider the positioning of (Russian) weapons such as Oreshnik on the territory of the Belarus is possible”, the Russian president said alongside his Belarusian counterpart Alexander Lukashenko, after signing a mutual agreement on security guarantees in Minsk. The Kremlin leader mentioned the possible date of “second half of next year.”

Seven people killed in Russian strike on Zaporizhzhia

The death toll from the Russian strike on the southern city of Zaporizhzhia on Friday has risen to at least 10 dead and 20 injured, including three children, Ukrainian rescue services said.

“Zaporizhia. 10 people died and 20 were injured. The fire in the gas station building and six cars has been extinguished,”, the rescue services wrote. national relief on their Telegram account.