Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said that he had discussed with his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron support for Ukraine and the possible deployment of foreign troops in the country - an idea that has been mentioned in recent months by Kiev's allies, Agence France-Presse reported, quoted by BTA.
"The conversation was quite long and detailed. We discussed defense support, various forms of protection, weapons packages for Ukraine," Zelensky announced in his traditional evening address on social networks. He added that he and Macron also discussed the purchase of shells for Ukraine, the deployment of contingents from partner countries in the country and the training of Ukrainian servicemen.
The idea of sending European troops to Ukraine has been mentioned several times in recent months amid speculation about possible future peace talks between Moscow and Kiev, AFP notes.
It is believed that this contingent would have the task of ensuring compliance with the hypothetical ceasefire between the two sides in the conflict, which is being called for by re-elected US President Donald Trump, who will return to the White House in a week.
Last week, Zelensky commented that possible foreign troops would be "one of the best tools" to "force Russia to make peace", AFP reports.
A woman was killed and her husband injured in a Russian drone attack on a car in Sumy region, northern Ukraine, Ukrinform reported, quoted by BTA, citing the regional prosecutor's office.
The attack took place yesterday afternoon.
The couple were traveling in a car that was targeted by a Russian drone. The man, 65, and his 54-year-old wife were injured, while the woman died on the way to the hospital.
Meanwhile, two people were injured in a Russian drone attack on a civilian car in the southern Kherson region, Ukrinform notes.
Drones play an important role in the war, which began nearly three years ago with Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine. At the same time, both sides in the conflict regularly accuse each other of deliberate drone attacks against civilians.
That night, explosions echoed in the Ukrainian capital, Kiev. Russian authorities, for their part, reported, quoted by TASS, about drone attacks in the Tula and Voronezh regions.