Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky will meet French President Emmanuel Macron in New York on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly, Zelensky announced after a phone call between the two leaders.
Zelensky said in a post on the social media platform X that he and Macron discussed diplomatic efforts to end the war in Ukraine. He thanked France for its support of Ukraine throughout the conflict.
He said he and Macron had agreed to meet in the near future on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly.
Food export talks widen
In a separate post, Zelensky said Kyiv is working with its partners to find a diplomatic solution that would support Ukraine's food exports, which dozens of other countries rely on.
"We are working actively with our partners to find a diplomatic solution in support of our food exports. Dozens of other countries depend on them," Zelensky wrote. "I am grateful to every partner who is helping right now, and Egypt, India, Turkiye, and Arab states are already involved."
Zelensky said the continuation of Ukrainian exports is directly tied to food security around the world and to preventing a new cost-of-living crisis in countries where social stability, in his words, affects both their own security and that of Europe.
Background to the talks
Ukraine is one of the world's largest exporters of grain and other agricultural products, and disruptions to its shipments during the war have had ripple effects on food prices in import-dependent countries across Africa, the Middle East and Asia. Zelensky has repeatedly sought international backing to keep export routes open since Russia's full-scale invasion began in February 2022.
Macron, who has positioned France as one of Kyiv's key European backers, has met Zelensky numerous times since the war began and has pushed for continued Western military and diplomatic support for Ukraine.
The UN General Assembly, which brings together heads of state and government from around the world each September in New York, has become a regular venue for Zelensky to press Ukraine's case to a global audience and to hold bilateral meetings with allied leaders on its sidelines.
What happens next
Zelensky and Macron are expected to hold their in-person meeting during the UN General Assembly gathering in New York, following the agreement the two leaders reached by phone. Zelensky said discussions on securing Ukraine's food exports with Egypt, India, Turkiye and Arab states are continuing.
