Macron, Trump Hold Constructive Talks on Global Conflicts

New York: (News Desk) – French President Emmanuel Macron said Monday that his talks with US President Donald Trump were “very constructive,” with discussions focusing on the conflicts in the Middle East and Ukraine.

Macron met Trump in New York after arriving in the US ahead of the annual United Nations General Assembly. Speaking to reporters after the meeting, the French president described the discussion as positive and said the two leaders addressed several key international security issues.

On the Middle East, Macron said there was a willingness to explore ways to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, a crucial global shipping route for oil and gas that has been blocked by Iran amid the ongoing conflict.

He said the two sides discussed several possible arrangements that could allow more container ships and oil tankers to pass through the strategic waterway, even without reaching a comprehensive agreement.

Macron also highlighted the situation in the Red Sea, saying developments there could have a significant impact on global prices. Shipping through the route has become increasingly important following disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz, while attacks and threats linked to Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthis have further complicated maritime traffic.

Regarding the Russia-Ukraine war, Macron said he urged Trump to accelerate support for Kyiv, particularly by providing defensive weapons systems and missile interceptors.

According to Macron, the two leaders also discussed the possibility of an energy truce and a moratorium in the Black Sea. He said the issue would also be raised during his meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.

Macron stressed that Ukraine’s energy infrastructure needs immediate support, particularly amid continued pressure on the country’s power system.

The French president separately met Zelensky on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York on Monday.

Before Macron’s meeting with Trump, a French official said the president was prepared to speak with the US leader with “total candor” on the major issues under discussion.

Macron later said Trump had been receptive to the detailed discussion, allowing both leaders to examine the two conflicts and their broader implications for international peace and security.

Macron arrived in New York from Saint Pierre and Miquelon, a French territory in the North Atlantic off Canada’s coast, where he had met Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney.

Carney is currently engaged in a trade dispute with Trump following the collapse of efforts by the United States and Canada to reach a trade agreement, with both countries imposing tariffs on each other.