Zelenskyy's Surprise Diplomatic Tour: Meetings with Macron and Merkel.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy made a surprise visit to Paris for talks with French President Emmanuel Macron, extending a multi-stop European tour that has elicited fresh pledges of military support as his country gears up for a counteroffensive against Russian occupation forces. They discussed Ukraine's military and humanitarian needs and “the more long term perspectives for a return to peace in Europe." France has supplied Ukraine with an array of weaponry, including air-defense systems, light tanks, howitzers, and other arms and equipment and fuel. Zelenskyy said the counteroffensive will aim to liberate Russian-occupied areas within Ukraine’s internationally recognized borders, and not to attack Russian territory.