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Through a major move to bolster its future defense, Ukraine has signed a preliminary agreement to acquire as many as 100 Rafale warplanes, unmanned aerial vehicles, air defense equipment and other key equipment from France. This deal was formalized by Ukrainian president Zelenskyy and French president Macron during a shared news conference at the Elysée presidential residence. Zelenskyy described the arrangement as “a historic deal.”

Forcibly Deported Minors: Relatives Lose Communication

Several relatives of Ukraine's children who were taken against their will to the Russian Federation have sounded the alarm about their fate, stating that all contact has been severed. At a rare press event in Paris, a legal guardian, who cares for two children removed after Russia's widespread military action of the country in recent years, said that officials in Russia are disregarding all requests to help with the children's repatriation.

Drone Attack Hits Turkish-Flagged Tanker in Odesa

An unmanned aerial vehicle hit a Turkish-flagged ship and caused a fire in the southern part of Ukraine's Odesa area, officials said. This event took place just one day after Zelenskyy approved a deal to import American liquefied natural gas through the area. The MT Orinda was struck while offloading liquefied petroleum gas at Izmail harbor, as stated by Turkey's maritime authority. All 16 crew members on board were safely removed and not a single person was injured.

Romania's Officials Relocate Villages Following Drone Incident

Romania's authorities said they had relocated two communities close to the Ukrainian frontier after the aerial strike on the tanker. After entering Ukraine in 2022, Russian forces has repeatedly targeted Ukraine's ports in the Danube River region, causing alerts in neighbouring the country.

United States President Trump Willing to Approve Russian Sanctions Legislation

US president Donald Trump is prepared to approve a bill to enact sanctions on the Russian Federation, as long as he retains final decision-making power over these actions, a senior U.S. administration representative said. The U.S. president informed journalists late on Sunday that it was “acceptable to me” that GOP members were drafting legislation to apply sanctions on countries engaging commercially with Russia over its inability to negotiate a peace deal with Ukraine.

Polish Prime Minister Describes Railway Blast an “Never-Before-Seen Case of Sabotage”

The Polish prime minister, Donald Tusk, has described an blast along a part of railway line used for shipments to Ukraine as an “unprecedented act of disruption” that could have resulted in disaster. These remarks came as a announcement from public prosecutors saying that an investigation had been initiated “concerning actions of sabotage of a terrorist nature […] committed on behalf of a external spy agency against the nation of the country.”

Chinese Leader Expresses Willingness to Deepen Partnership with Russia

The Chinese government is prepared to deepen collaboration with Russia in the energy sector, farming and additional investments, Premier Li Qiang said during a discussion with Russia's leader Mikhail Mishustin in the Russian capital. Li informed Mishustin that the country welcomes more agricultural and food-related goods from the nation, according to the official media outlet. The Chinese side also desires that Russia will make it easier for companies from China to invest and do business in Russia, the source mentioned. Mishustin told Li that the cooperation between the two sides has repeatedly proven its resilience to outside pressures.