Emmanuel Macron met Donald Trump in New York on Monday, September 21, hoping to keep the US president aligned with Ukraine and Europe. The meeting came as the UN General Assembly opened. Earlier, Trump seemed to blame Zelensky for rising oil prices and urged Ukraine to stop striking Russian diesel facilities. His tone raised fears of a new US shift toward Russia.
After 45 minutes, Macron said he captured Trump’s attention by outlining solutions for Ukraine and the Middle East to calm energy markets. He called it “a very good discussion.” Trump appeared attentive and almost warm. The day before, Trump had again urged Zelensky to stop strikes on Russian refineries, according to the Financial Times. Rather than push back, Macron suggested a “moratorium” covering both Ukrainian and Russian strikes.
Macron said Ukraine’s energy system must be helped, reminding reporters that Moscow is the aggressor, not Kyiv. The Kremlin has targeted Ukrainian infrastructure for four years to make civilians suffer before winter. Macron later spoke with Zelensky, who said on X that his energy sector and food exports must stop being Russian targets. That, he said, would lead to de-escalation.
The warmth in New York does not erase disagreements. Trump’s style and disregard for sovereignty clash with French values. Macron also reminded Trump that he had always been clear about not doing what Trump did in Iran. Diplomats believe the closure of the Strait of Hormuz since the war began is what truly destabilized traffic. Still, on Monday, both presidents set aside differences, sharing a sense of urgency to contain soaring gasoline prices that strain household budgets and fuel voter anger.
Reference
Le Monde, “A New York, Emmanuel Macron et Donald Trump débattent de l’Ukraine et de pétrole,” published September 22, 2026. https://www.lemonde.fr/international/article/2026/09/22/a-new-york-emmanuel-macron-et-donald-trump-debattent-de-l-ukraine-et-de-la-flambee-de-l-or-noir_6779749_3210.html