Paris: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy met with French President Emmanuel Macron in Paris on Friday, aiming to bring renewed attention to the ongoing war in Ukraine. This meeting comes at a time when the US-Israeli conflict with Iran is drawing military and diplomatic resources away from the situation in Ukraine, which has recently entered its fourth year.

According to Deutsche Welle, Zelenskyy's visit to the French capital highlights the importance of maintaining global focus on Ukraine despite the emerging crisis in the Middle East. A French presidency official emphasized that Ukraine remains a significant security issue and assured that France's support for Ukraine would remain steadfast. Discussions between Zelenskyy and Macron focused on strategies to intensify pressure on Moscow, specifically by targeting its "shadow fleet" used to transport oil in violation of sanctions.

The ongoing conflict with Iran has impeded efforts to resolve the war in Ukraine, as scheduled peace talks in Abu Dhabi have been disrupted by Iranian strikes. The conflict has also led to a significant increase in global oil prices, prompting the Trump administration to allow a temporary waiver for the sale of sanctioned Russian oil, a move that has sparked criticism from Ukraine and European allies.

In a joint press conference, Macron reiterated France's stance against lifting Russian sanctions, aligning with the G7's position. Zelenskyy criticized the US decision, arguing that it could financially benefit Russia and hinder peace efforts.

Gulf states, grappling with Iranian strikes, face a shortage of air defense weaponry, potentially impacting Ukraine's access to similar resources. Zelenskyy warned of the impact on Ukraine's missile shortages and proposed offering Ukrainian drone interception technology to Gulf states in exchange for air defense missiles.

In a separate incident on Friday, a Russian strike near Kupiansk in eastern Ukraine resulted in the deaths of three people when a bus was hit by an Iskandr missile. Local investigators reported that the bus driver and two passengers were killed, and several others were injured in the attack. The Kremlin has yet to comment on the incident, maintaining its stance of not targeting civilians.