Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky arrived Sunday evening at Villakoblay air base (southwest of Paris) on an unannounced visit to France, part of a European tour that has included Italy and Germany so far.

After being received by Prime Minister Elizabeth Bourne, Zelensky met after his arrival with French President Emmanuel Macron for a working dinner that included discussing "the urgent needs of Ukraine at the military and French levels," according to the French presidency.

Zelenskiy wrote on Twitter upon arrival: "With each visit, Ukraine's defensive and offensive capabilities increase. Links with Europe are strengthening and pressure on Russia is intensifying."

This is the visit by the Ukrainian president since the start of the Russian war last year, after meeting with Macron and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz in the French capital last February.

Before arriving in France, Zelenskiy received an award in the German city of Aachen on Sunday for his contribution to European unity.

A number of EU leaders who participated in Aachen by handing the prestigious Charlemagne Prize to the president and the Ukrainian people saw Ukraine fighting for Europe's freedom and values.

Zelensky's visit to Germany was the first since the start of the Russian war on his country, and began in the morning in the German capital, Berlin, where he was received by the German chancellor, amid tight security measures.

Convergence after resentment

According to AFP, the visit clearly underscored the strengthening of rapprochement between Berlin and Kiev, after months of Ukrainian discontent with the German government for delaying the delivery of weapons ordered by Kiev.

Zelenskiy praised the support of Germany, which he described as a "true friend" and "reliable ally" after announcing the delivery of 2.7 billion euros worth of new weapons to Kiev to support in its counteroffensive against Russia.

Zelensky stressed that his country is not attacking Russian territory, and said - at a joint press conference with Schulz - "We do not have the time nor the strength to do this, and we do not have the weapons to do so. We are preparing a counteroffensive to liberate illegally occupied territories."

It is worth noting that since February 24, 2022, Russia has launched a military operation in Ukraine, followed by international rejection and economic sanctions on Moscow, which conditions the end of its operation on Kiev's abandonment of plans to join military entities, which Kiev considers an interference in its sovereignty.

Bakhmut Front

In the most notable military developments on Sunday, Moscow said Ukrainian forces had made major attempts to penetrate their defenses in the city of Pakhmut, and announced the death of two military commanders on the front, as pressure on its forces continued to grow.

The Russian Defense Ministry said in a statement that Ukraine launched attacks on the north and south of the city in the past 24 hours, but did not succeed in penetrating Russian defenses. It added that it repelled all attacks by units of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

Neither side has been able to take full control of Bachmut, despite months of grinding war that has inflicted heavy losses on both.

Moscow acknowledged last Friday that its forces had retreated in the north of the city amid intensified Ukrainian attacks, but Kiev played down suggestions that it had officially launched its long-planned major counteroffensive.