Zelenskyy's European Tour: Allies pledge support amid Ukraine's counteroffensive.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy secured new military aid from France and Germany as his troops appeared to deal the Kremlin new blows on the ground and in the air, with Moscow's army suffering further losses around the eastern city of Bakhmut and its air force losing as many as four aircraft. Zelenskyy embarked on a diplomatic offensive to secure support ahead of his military’s long-awaited assault against Russian forces on the battlefield. China’s special envoy to Europe is expected to visit Ukraine, Russia and a number of European countries this week, as Beijing seeks to play the role of a neutral negotiator in the conflict with a push for peace that appears some way off.