French President Emmanuel Macron met with former U.S. President Donald Trump shortly after arriving in New York for the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly.
Macron emphasized the importance of protecting civilians, stating, “We need to swiftly initiate serious negotiations regarding peace terms between Russia and Ukraine.” This sentiment was echoed during a press briefing following their meeting, where Macron described their talks as “very good” and “very constructive.” The two leaders agreed on the necessity of assisting Kyiv in bolstering its defense capabilities, according to reports from Reuters.
Macron highlighted the ongoing priority of supporting Ukraine’s energy system, noting that the war continues to impact safety across Europe. He expressed hope for progress during the upcoming annual UN leaders’ summit.
Context
- On September 13, Trump stated that Ukraine should stop destroying diesel fuel in Russia, claiming it harms the world. This call was welcomed in the Kremlin.
- The following day, Trump claimed that Ukraine and the aggressor nation had agreed to refrain from mutual attacks on energy infrastructure. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky indicated this could involve halting strikes on energy facilities, port infrastructure, logistics, and food and pharmaceutical warehouses. He mentioned that the Ukrainian side awaits concrete proposals from its partners.
- According to the Financial Times, as of September 14, a final agreement on halting strikes was still in preparation.
- On September 15, Zelensky expressed readiness for an energy ceasefire with Russia but noted that the term
