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Through a major step to strengthen its future defense, the Ukrainian government has finalized a preliminary agreement to acquire as many as 100 Rafale jets, unmanned aerial vehicles, air defense equipment and additional essential equipment from the French Republic. This deal was formalized by Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy and France's leader Macron during a shared press briefing at the Elysée presidential palace. Zelenskyy referred to the arrangement as “a historic deal.”

Forcibly Taken Children: Relatives Lose Communication

A number of families of Ukrainian minors who were taken against their will to the Russian Federation have sounded the alarm about their fate, stating that all contact has been cut off. During a uncommon press event in the French capital, Darina Repina, who cares for two minors taken after Moscow's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, said that officials in Russia are disregarding every appeal to help with the children's repatriation.

Drone Attack Targets Turkey-Registered Vessel in Southern Ukraine

An unmanned aerial vehicle hit a Turkish-flagged ship and set it ablaze in the southern part of Ukraine's Odesa area, officials said. The incident occurred just a day after Zelenskyy approved a agreement to import American liquefied natural gas through the area. The MT Orinda was hit while unloading LPG at Izmail harbor, as stated by Turkish maritime authority. All 16 crew members on board evacuated and no one was hurt.

Romania's Authorities Relocate Villages After Drone Incident

Romania's authorities announced they had evacuated two communities near the Ukrainian border after the aerial strike on the MT Orinda. Since invading Ukraine in 2022, Moscow has repeatedly attacked Ukraine's harbors in the Danube River area, causing warnings in neighbouring the country.

United States Leader Donald Trump Open to Sign Russian Penalties Bill

US president Donald Trump is willing to sign a bill to impose sanctions on Russia, provided that he keeps ultimate decision-making power over any such actions, an high-ranking White House official stated. The U.S. president told journalists late on Sunday that it was “OK with me” that Republicans were drafting a bill to impose sanctions on nations doing business with Russia over its inability to negotiate a peace deal with Ukraine.

Poland's Leader Describes Railway Explosion an “Unprecedented Case of Disruption”

Poland's prime minister, Donald Tusk, has described an explosion along a section of rail track used for shipments to Ukraine as an “unprecedented instance of sabotage” that might have resulted in catastrophe. This statement came as a announcement from public prosecutors saying that an investigation had opened “regarding actions of sabotage of a terror-related kind […] carried out on behalf of a external intelligence service against the nation of the country.”

Chinese Premier Shows Willingness to Expand Cooperation with Russian Federation

The Chinese government is ready to deepen cooperation with the Russian Federation in the energy sector, farming and additional investments, Premier Li Qiang said during a discussion with Russia's leader Mishustin in Moscow. Li told Mishustin that China welcomes more agricultural and food-related products from Russia, as per the official news agency. China also desires that Moscow will make it easier for Chinese enterprises to invest and operate in Russia, the report cited. The Russian leader assured his counterpart that the cooperation between the two sides has repeatedly proven its resilience to external pressures.