Macron Urges Trump to Speed Up Missile Interceptors for Ukraine in New York Talks

French President Emmanuel Macron urged US President Donald Trump to accelerate deliveries of defensive weapons to Ukraine during talks in New York on Monday, Sept. 21. Meeting at Trump Tower on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly, the two leaders held detailed discussions on Russia’s war against Ukraine and mounting security concerns in the Red Sea. Macron later described the talks as “very constructive.”JOIN US ON TELEGRAMFollow our coverage of the war on the @Kyivpost_official. Ahead of the meeting, a French official said Macron intended to speak with Trump with “total candor.” Push for missile interceptors Macron said securing faster deliveries of missile interceptors for Ukraine was a key part of the talks as Russian drones and missiles continue to target Ukrainian cities and critical infrastructure. “We discussed the need to help our Ukrainian friends faster and more strongly in terms of interceptors, because that is... a defensive measure,” Macron said. The French president said Trump was receptive as they went into detail on Ukraine and the Red Sea. “We had a very good discussion. It was very constructive,” Macron said. “There was a great deal of openness, and we were able to go into detail on these two conflicts, which are obviously important for peace in the world and for our security, and which have a direct impact on the purchasing power of the French people.” France and other members of the Coalition of the Willing have been pressing for stronger air defenses for Ukraine, including additional interceptor missiles. Other Topics of Interest Ukraine Repels 197 Russian Attacks on Monday The General Staff of the AFU reports 197 combat engagements over the 24-hour period ending 10:00 p.m. Monday, with Russia concentrating assaults largely on the Pokrovsk and Kostiantynivka axes. Red Sea security and global prices Macron said the talks also focused on the Red Sea and the growing economic consequences of disruption along major energy and shipping routes. Traffic through the Strait of Hormuz remains sharply below pre-war levels, while Houthi advances and attacks around the Bab al-Mandab Strait have added another threat to oil and commercial shipping routes. The Red Sea route has become particularly important as Middle Eastern producers seek alternatives amid disruption around Hormuz. Shipping through Bab al-Mandab has also declined amid the renewed fighting in Yemen. Zelensky talks next Macron arrived in New York after visiting Saint-Pierre and Miquelon, where he met Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney and discussed closer cooperation between France, Canada and Europe. The French president is also expected to meet President Volodymyr Zelensky on the sidelines of the General Assembly. Zelensky is scheduled to meet Trump in New York as Kyiv and Washington continue discussions over security, de-escalation and efforts to end Russia’s war. The talks come after Trump recently urged Ukraine to stop striking Russian oil refineries, linking the attacks to pressure on global diesel prices. Zelensky has said Kyiv would be prepared to halt such strikes if Russia reciprocally stopped attacks on Ukrainian energy infrastructure. Kyiv Post is Ukraine’s first and oldest English news organization, reporting since 1995. Its international reach – 97% of readers are outside of Ukraine – make it truly Ukraine’s global voice.