Paris hosts summit to strengthen support for Ukraine

French President Emmanuel Macron and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky will meet for dinner on Wednesday night at the Élysée Palace in Paris. This meeting comes before the “Coalition of the Willing” summit, scheduled for Thursday. Macron intends to emphasize France’s support for Ukraine as it defends against Russian attacks. The summit will see representatives from 31 countries. They will discuss security guarantees for Ukraine, including possible peacekeeping missions. This meeting is seen as vital for shaping Europe’s future strategy regarding the conflict. Discussions will focus on ensuring long-term security for Ukraine and enhancing its defense capabilities. The talks follow the U.S. announcement to reduce military funding for Ukraine. Meanwhile, the European Union is proposing an €800 billion defense package to strengthen its own military capabilities. On the ground, Ukraine faces ongoing challenges. Zelensky condemned a new wave of Russian drone attacks, with over 100 drones launched against Ukraine. While Ukraine's air force managed to down 56 drones, many were lost from radar but did not cause damage.