US President-elect Donald Trump said on Sunday that Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky was keen for a deal to end his country's conflict with Russia, after the pair met in Paris to celebrate the reopening of the Notre Dame cathedral.

French President Emmanuel Macron hosted three-way talks with Zelensky and Trump at the Elysee Palace on Saturday, almost three years into the war and ahead of the US president-elect taking office in January.

"Zelenskyy and Ukraine would like to make a deal and stop the madness," Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform.

"There should be an immediate ceasefire and negotiations should begin. Too many lives are being so needlessly wasted, too many families destroyed, and if it keeps going, it can turn into something much bigger, and far worse."

Zelensky's meeting with Trump was his first face-to-face encounter with the tycoon-turned-politician since his November election victory. (AFP)