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Trump calls for immediate ceasefire in Ukraine
By John Irish
December 8, 2024 3:07 p.m. GMT+1 · Updated 9 hours ago
PARIS, Dec 8 (Reuters) - U.S. President-elect Donald Trump on Sunday called for an immediate ceasefire and negotiations between Ukraine and Russia to end "the madness," prompting Ukrainian President Volodymr Zelensky and the Kremlin to list their conditions.
Trump commented on their first face-to-face talks since Trump's victory in last month's US election just hours after meeting with Zelensky in Paris. Trump has promised to end the conflict through negotiation, but has not yet given any details.

"Zelensky and Ukraine want to make a deal and stop the madness," Trump wrote on his social media platform Truth Social, adding that Kyiv had lost around 400,000 soldiers. "There should be an immediate ceasefire and negotiations should begin."
"I know Vladimir well. Now is the time to act. China can help. The world is waiting!" Trump added, referring to Russian President Putin.
Trump, who was in Paris for the reopening of Notre-Dame Cathedral, sat with Zelensky for about an hour on Saturday, along with host President Emmanuel Macron.

Trump and Zelensky shook hands and smiled, but it was unclear how the conversation had gone. The reports on the talks from the French and Ukrainian sides only said that the talks had been good and productive.

"When we talk about effective peace with Russia, we must first of all talk about effective guarantees for peace. Ukrainians want peace more than anyone else," he said on X.

"It (the war) cannot simply end with a piece of paper and a few signatures. A ceasefire without guarantees can be rekindled at any time, as Putin has done before. To ensure that Ukrainians do not suffer any more losses, we must guarantee the reliability of peace and not close our eyes to the occupation."
It seemed as if Trump's figure of 400,000 Ukrainian soldiers killed in the war meant both dead and wounded. Zelensky said that 43,000 soldiers had been killed in the war and that there had been 370,000 wounded soldiers.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov called a conference call with reporters to address Trump's remarks.

Peskov said Russia was open to talks, but these would have to be based on the agreements reached in Istanbul in 2022 and on the current realities on the battlefield, where Russian forces have advanced at the fastest pace since the war began in 2022.
Putin has repeatedly said that a preliminary agreement reached between Russian and Ukrainian negotiators in the first weeks of the war at the talks in Istanbul, which was never implemented, could serve as the basis for future talks.

"Our position on Ukraine is known," Peskov said.

"President Putin set out the conditions for an immediate cessation of hostilities in his speech to the Russian Foreign Ministry in June this year. It is important to remember that it was Ukraine that refused and continues to refuse to negotiate," he said.
Putin has said that Ukraine must not join the NATO military alliance and that Russia should retain full control over four Ukrainian regions, which its troops currently partially control, in order for a peace agreement to be reached.
Peskov pointed out that Zelensky had banned contacts with the Russian leadership through a special decree, which, according to Peskov, would have to be revoked if the talks were to continue.

The Reuters Daily Briefing Newsletter provides all the news you need to start your day.

Additional reporting by Pavel Polityuk in Kiev and by Dmitry Antonov in Moscow, as well as by Maxim Rodionov and Andrew Osborn in London

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to the musical On top of that, an article from dailymail.co.uk:
"Everyone says the same thing as Donald Trump and Jill Biden share an intimate moment in Paris"
December 8, 2024 | Updated: 17:22 GMT, December 8, 2024
Donald Trump and Jill Biden's friendly interaction at the reopening of Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris, France, has sent the internet into a frenzy.

Images of the future president with the smiling first lady sparked a wave of reactions - they said Jill gushed about Trump and secretly supported him.

After seeing the political couple's amorous pictures online, internet personality Nick Sortor wrote on X: "Jill definitely voted for President Trump."

Jill and her daughter Ashley sat next to Trump at Saturday's ceremony, but what some thought was an uncomfortable seating arrangement turned into a telling moment.

The photos showed Jill grinning and chatting casually with Trump as they leaned close together.

One person commented, "Find someone who looks at you like Jill Biden looks at President Trump." Another chimed in, "Jill and Ashley Biden look like they are absolutely in love with President Trump."

"Just look at the admiration for Trump in Jill Biden's eyes at the reopening of Notre Dame in Paris," one user pointed out.

Some even went so far as to say that Jill - and her family - voted against their party on election day.

"She looks way too happy," one wrote. "I think they certainly voted for Trump."

"I totally voted for him, no doubt," one user claimed. And another agreed, "She definitely voted for him. I have no doubt about that."

Someone claimed, "Jill hates Kamala. She and Joe couldn't be happier that Trump won."

Another shared a similar sentiment: "The Bidens voted for Trump knowing what Kamala wasn't capable of." Another said: "I have a weird feeling the transition is going to be very smooth."

Politics aside, people were quick to point out that Jill seemed to enjoy the conversation and Trump's company overall. One X user said: "This is the happiest I've seen her in months."

"They look like buddies," someone shared, pointing out how comfortable they seemed with each other.

One person joked: "What's Joe going to say when he sees that look? Lol they're practically drooling for President Trump."

Trump supporters also praised him for being "charming" and personable. One Trump lover wrote: "He's irresistible!" Another added: "Come on. Honestly, don't see how anyone hates him!"

The president-elect was also spotted with French President Emmanuel Macron at the historic ceremony.

Macron greeted Trump with a warm pat on the check and a hug. The two political figures met as part of the ceremony celebrating the renovation of the iconic cathedral, which was destroyed by fire in 2019.

Trump sat between Macron and his wife Brigitte Macron in the same row as the Bidens.

Macron spoke positively of Trump, calling it a "great honor" to meet with him to discuss various policy issues.

The charming conversation between Jill and Trump came just about a month after Jill vowed to help Melania in any way she could as she takes on her role as first lady.

"She presented the president-elect with a handwritten letter of congratulations for Melania, also expressing her team's willingness to help with the transition," the East Wing shared.
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-14170717/donald-trump-jill-biden-intimate-moment-paris.html
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enough!

PS: Kid Rock was missed!