Macron says he discussed Ukraine-Russia energy ceasefire with Trump
Photo: Emmanuel Macron and Donald Trump (Getty Images)
French President Emmanuel Macron stated that on Monday, he discussed with US President Donald Trump initiatives aimed at establishing a moratorium between Ukraine and Russia on attacks related to the energy sector, according to Reuters.
Speaking to journalists, Macron said that he and Trump had a "very good" and "very constructive" discussion regarding the war and agreed on the need to help Kyiv strengthen its defense.
"We had a lengthy discussion on Ukraine and Russia, the need to help our Ukrainian friends more quickly and more strongly in terms of interceptors, because that is the key issue from a defensive point of view," the French leader said.
Without going into details, Macron said they also discussed the idea of halting strikes on the energy sector - a topic he will raise during his meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
The French leader added that assisting Ukraine's energy system remains a priority, as the war continues to affect security across Europe. Macron also expressed hope for progress during the annual UN leaders' meeting.
What else is important to know
On September 20, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and US President Donald Trump held a phone conversation. Sources from Axios claim that Trump asked Zelenskyy to halt strikes on Russian oil refineries, as this is driving up diesel prices.
It was also confirmed that Zelenskyy and Trump will hold a meeting in the US. According to RBC-Ukraine, Ukraine does not expect breakthroughs in the talks, but the main focus will be on energy de-escalation.
Furthermore, on September 21, Zelenskyy named the condition for halting strikes on Russian oil refineries. He said that Ukraine would do so in response to Kremlin steps toward de-escalation. Among the facilities that should not be targeted, he named energy facilities, critical infrastructure, and food exports.
