France and Ukraine are set to sign a bilateral security agreement Friday when Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy visits Paris.

On Thursday, the office of French President Emmanuel Macron declared the progress, however, no specifics were given about the agreement.

The French president’s office stated that during Zelenskyy’s visit, Macron will declare France’s commitment to steadfastly stand by Ukraine and its people for the foreseeable future, along with its allies.

The office of Zelenskyy stated that he will be visiting Germany on Friday to meet with Chancellor Olaf Scholz.

Zelenskyy is expected to participate in a series of global events this week, including the Munich Security Conference on Saturday. This meeting is just one of many international gatherings taking place.

On Thursday, defense leaders from NATO gathered in Brussels to talk about ways to continue their aid to Ukraine as they fight against a complete Russian attack that started almost two years ago.

On Thursday, NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg emphasized the importance of boosting defense production among allies in order to provide Ukraine with necessary weapons, supplies, and ammunition.

Stoltenberg stated that he anticipates the U.S. Congress reaching an agreement for a new aid package for Ukraine, as their previous funding expired in December.

The leader of NATO informed journalists that aiding Ukraine is not an act of goodwill, but rather a safeguard for our own security.

On Thursday, Ukraine reported that multiple regions were targeted by a barrage of Russian missiles, while officials in the Russian city of Belgorod claimed that a Ukrainian assault resulted in the deaths of at least five individuals.

According to Vyacheslav Gladkov, the governor of the Belgorod region, 18 more individuals were injured in the attack launched by Ukraine.

The Russian defense ministry announced the destruction of 14 rockets in the Belgorod region, situated near the Ukraine border and known for frequent Ukrainian assaults.

According to Ukrainian authorities, the rockets launched by Russia on Thursday caused injuries to at least six individuals and caused damage to several buildings.

According to Maksym Kozytskyi, the governor of Lviv in western Ukraine, three individuals sustained injuries in the region due to missiles striking an infrastructure building and multiple homes.

Authorities in Zaporizhzhia city stated that four individuals were injured and a school and a shop sustained damage as a result of the Russian attack.

Missiles from Russia were aimed at Kyiv, the capital of Ukraine. Officials reported that all of the missiles were successfully intercepted by air defenses and no injuries were reported.

According to the Ukrainian air force, Russia fired a total of 26 missiles, but Ukrainian air defenses were able to destroy half of them.

On Thursday, Stoltenberg stated that the destruction of a Russian naval vessel in the Black Sea by a Ukrainian attack demonstrated the significance of backing Ukraine’s military.

“Recently, the Ukrainian military successfully attacked a Russian warship, showcasing the capabilities and proficiency of their armed forces. This also highlights their ability to carry out strategic strikes beyond Russian borders,” Stoltenberg stated to the press.

The Ukrainian armed forces confirmed that the Russian vessel involved in the attack was the Caesar Kunikov, located in the vicinity of the Crimean city of Alupka during the incident.

The Kremlin declined to comment on the Wednesday attack when asked.

Ukrainian forces have destroyed several ships in Russia’s Black Sea fleet since Russia invaded Ukraine nearly two years ago.

According to Ukrainian military intelligence, a video on Telegram was released allegedly depicting a group of naval drones approaching a sizable vessel, followed by a significant explosion.

Retired Rear Adm. Joseph A. DiGuardo, speaking to VOA’s Ukrainian Service, praised Ukraine’s skill in utilizing unmanned systems to achieve strategic impact on the battlefield. He believes that the success of this tactic in maritime strikes will have significant implications for technologically advanced navies, prompting them to reevaluate vessel protection and threat reduction strategies.

A high-ranking official from the U.S. State Department stated on Wednesday that the use of drones by Ukraine in the Black Sea is significant.

The Russian navy’s current lack of freedom to operate in the Black Sea, in contrast to its previous capabilities at the start of this war, marks a significant change in the strategic landscape of the Black Sea region.

The report includes data from Associated Press, Agence France-Presse, and Reuters.

Source: voanews.com