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In a significant step to bolster its long-term security, the Ukrainian government has signed a preliminary agreement to purchase up to 100 Rafale warplanes, unmanned aerial vehicles, air defense equipment and additional essential equipment from the French Republic. The agreement was signed by Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy and France's leader Emmanuel Macron during a joint press briefing at the Elysée presidential residence. Zelenskyy referred to the pact as “a historic deal.”

Forcibly Deported Children: Relatives Cut Off Contact

Several families of Ukrainian children who were taken against their will to the Russian Federation have raised concerns about their well-being, reporting that all contact has been cut off. During a rare news conference in the French capital, Darina Repina, who is responsible for two minors taken after Russia's widespread invasion of the country in 2022, said that Russian authorities are disregarding every appeal to facilitate the minors' repatriation.

Unmanned Aerial Attack Hits Turkey-Registered Vessel in Southern Ukraine

An unmanned aerial vehicle struck a Turkish-flagged ship and set it ablaze in the southern part of Ukraine's Odesa area, authorities said. The incident occurred just a day after Zelenskyy approved a deal to import US LNG through the region. The MT Orinda was hit while offloading LPG at Izmail port, according to Turkey's Directorate for Maritime Affairs. All 16 crew on board evacuated and no one was hurt.

Romanian Officials Evacuate Communities After Aerial Attack

Romania's officials said they had evacuated two communities near the Ukraine frontier after the aerial strike on the tanker. Since invading Ukraine in 2022, Moscow has repeatedly attacked Ukraine's harbors in the Danube area, causing alerts in neighbouring Romania.

United States Leader Trump Open to Sign Russia Sanctions Legislation

The American leader Trump is willing to sign a bill to enact penalties on the Russian Federation, provided that he keeps final decision-making power over any such actions, a senior U.S. administration official stated. The U.S. president informed journalists recently that it was “acceptable to me” that Republicans were working on a bill to impose sanctions on countries doing business with Moscow over its inability to negotiate a peace deal with Ukraine.

Poland's Leader Calls Rail Blast an “Unprecedented Case of Sabotage”

The Polish leader, Tusk, has described an explosion along a part of railway line used for shipments to the country as an “unprecedented instance of disruption” that could have led to catastrophe. These remarks coincided with a announcement from legal authorities saying that an investigation had been initiated “regarding actions of sabotage of a terror-related nature […] carried out on orders of a foreign intelligence agency against the Republic of Poland.”

Chinese Leader Expresses Readiness to Expand Cooperation with Russian Federation

The Chinese government is ready to strengthen cooperation with Russia in energy, agriculture and additional financial ventures, Leader Li Qiang said during a meeting with Russia's leader Mikhail Mishustin in Moscow. Li told Mishustin that the country is open to more agricultural and food goods from Russia, according to the official media outlet. The Chinese side also desires that Moscow will facilitate for Chinese enterprises to put money and operate there, the report mentioned. The Russian leader assured Li that the cooperation between the both nations has consistently demonstrated its strength to outside pressures.