France allocates new military aid to Ukraine, Russia launches massive drone attack - Wednesday brief

France to allocate €2 billion in military aid to Ukraine: Macron reveals where funds will go

France is allocating a new military aid package for Ukraine, amounting to 2 billion euros, states French President Emmanuel Macron during his press conference with Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

Where the 2 billion euros in support for Ukraine will go:

• MILAN anti-tank missiles

• Air defense systems: MICA missiles

• Aviation missiles (for equipping Mirage aircraft)

• Mistral ground defense missiles

• AMX-10RC armored vehicles

• Ammunition, including remotely controlled ones.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy arrived in Paris on Wednesday, March 26, for a visit with French President Emmanuel Macron to prepare for the Coalition of the Willing summit.

The Coalition of the Willing summit will take place on March 27 in Paris, where participants will discuss more specific steps to support Ukraine. Zelenskyy will also attend the summit.

Russia and Ukraine have not attacked each other's energy infrastructure for a week – sources

After the conversation between US President Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin on March 19, Russian missiles and drones did not target Ukrainian energy facilities. Following Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's agreement to an energy ceasefire, Ukraine also stopped striking Russian energy infrastructure.

"It looks like the Russians haven't targeted energy for nearly a week. Since March 19, such strikes have not been recorded. We'll see how this develops, as nothing has been formally documented yet," a source in military circles told RBC-Ukraine.

However, this does not stop Moscow from continuing to terrorize Ukraine nightly with hundreds of Shahed drones and attacking other targets.

Massive drone attack on Ukraine: Strikes, fires, and many wounded reported

Late on March 26, Russian forces launched another drone attack on Ukraine, targeting at least Kharkiv, Dnipro, and Sumy. Fires were reported, and there are casualties.

Dmytro Chubenko, spokesperson for the Kharkiv regional prosecutor's office, noted that from 20:40 to 21:20, the Russians carried out up to 15 strikes on the Slobidskyi and Kyivskyi districts of the city. As of now, the number of injured has risen to 10.

Around 22:28 Kyiv time, loud explosions were heard in Dnipro as Russian forces launched a drone attack on the city. According to Dnipropetrovsk Regional Governor Serhii Lysak, the attack caused a fire.

"As a result of the drone strike, several fires broke out in Dnipro, including vehicles and infrastructure facilities. All emergency services are working. We are currently determining if there are any casualties," he added at 23:04 Kyiv time.

New leaks from US secret chat: The Atlantic unveils plans for Yemen strike

The Atlantic's editor-in-chief, Jeffrey Goldberg, has published new messages from a secret chat involving US officials. These messages concerned US plans for an attack on Yemen, The Atlantic reports.

According to screenshots provided by the publication, just half an hour before the start of the US operation on March 15, a conversation began in the secret Signal chat of top US officials, where Goldberg had been mistakenly added. Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth wrote about detailed American plans regarding the takeoff of F-18 fighter jets, deployment of MQ-9 drones, and the use of Tomahawk missiles.

Total ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine by April 20: Presidential Office evaluates possibility

Mykhailo Podolyak, adviser to the Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine, in a comment to RBC-Ukraine, stated that to achieve results in negotiations with Russia, US President Donald Trump will have to exert pressure on the Kremlin. According to him, concessions to Moscow will lead to defeat, even for the United States.

"For us, given that we have synchronized our positions with the US, he (Trump - ed.) also sincerely believes in this today. But Russia will try to nullify his (Trump's - ed..) reputation. So, if he wants to achieve results, he will have to use the carrot and the stick to compel Russia to make concessions," said Podolyak.