Macron says Trump talks opened diplomatic path on Strait of Hormuz

French President Emmanuel Macron said a "very constructive" meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump in New York had opened possible diplomatic routes towards reopening the Strait of Hormuz, a move he said could allow more oil tankers to pass through and help ease pressure on prices.

The two leaders met at Trump Tower on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly. Macron described the talks as detailed and said they covered the crisis in the Middle East as well as the situation in the Red Sea, where he noted growing confrontation and escalation.

According to Macron, the discussions included options that could be pursued without waiting for a broader global agreement, with negotiations set to continue in the coming hours and possible progress within days. He said the aim was to let more oil tankers and container ships through, and to better secure oil terminals in the Red Sea.

On Ukraine, Macron said he and Trump held a long conversation about Russia's war and the need to move "stronger and faster" in supporting Ukrainian forces, particularly with interceptor missiles, which he called a key aspect of the defensive front. He said they also revisited initiatives that could lead to a moratorium on energy issues.

Macron said both conflicts have a direct impact on the purchasing power of French households, linking the diplomatic push to domestic economic concerns as France contends with inflation. He stressed that the talks were constructive and that both sides showed willingness to go into detail.

"I want results," Macron said, adding that efforts would continue over the next hours and that progress could come even outside New York. He said the trip could accelerate certain discussions, but that talks had begun before the visit and would continue regardless.