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Through a major move to strengthen its long-term defense, the Ukrainian government has signed a preliminary agreement to acquire up to 100 Rafale jets, drones, air defence systems and other key equipment from the French Republic. This deal was formalized by Ukrainian president Zelenskyy and French president Emmanuel Macron during a shared news conference at the Elysée palace. Zelenskyy referred to the pact as “a historic deal.”

Forcibly Deported Children: Relatives Lose Communication

Several relatives of Ukraine's minors who were forcibly deported to Russia have sounded the alarm about their fate, stating that every line of communication has been cut off. At a rare news conference in the French capital, a legal guardian, who is responsible for two minors taken after Moscow's full-scale military action of Ukraine in recent years, stated that officials in Russia are ignoring every appeal to facilitate the minors' return.

Unmanned Aerial Strike Targets Turkey-Registered Vessel in Odesa

A drone hit a Turkey-registered tanker and set it ablaze in southern Ukraine's Odesa area, officials said. This event occurred just a day after Zelenskyy signed a agreement to bring in US LNG via the region. The MT Orinda was hit while offloading liquefied petroleum gas at Izmail harbor, as stated by Turkish maritime authority. Every one of the 16 crew on board were safely removed and no one was injured.

Romania's Officials Relocate Villages Following Drone Attack

Romania's authorities said they had evacuated two communities near the Ukrainian frontier following the drone attack on the MT Orinda. Since invading Ukraine in recent years, Moscow has consistently targeted Ukraine's harbors in the Danube River area, triggering warnings in neighbouring the country.

United States President Donald Trump Open to Sign Russian Sanctions Bill

The American leader Donald Trump is willing to sign legislation to impose sanctions on the Russian Federation, as long as he keeps ultimate decision-making authority over any such measures, a senior White House representative stated. Trump informed journalists recently that it was “acceptable to me” that GOP members were working on legislation to impose restrictions on nations engaging commercially with Moscow over its failure to reach a peace deal with Ukraine.

Poland's Prime Minister Calls Railway Blast an “Unprecedented Case of Disruption”

Poland's prime minister, Donald Tusk, has described an explosion along a section of railway line used for shipments to Ukraine as an “unprecedented act of disruption” that could have led to disaster. These remarks coincided with a statement from public prosecutors saying that an investigation had opened “concerning acts of disruption of a terrorist nature […] carried out on orders of a external spy agency against the Republic of Poland.”

Chinese Leader Shows Willingness to Expand Cooperation with Russia

The Chinese government is prepared to strengthen cooperation with Russia in the energy sector, agriculture and additional investments, Premier Li said during a meeting with Russia's leader Mikhail Mishustin in Moscow. Li informed Mishustin that China is open to more farm and food-related goods from Russia, according to the official news agency. The Chinese side also desires that Moscow will facilitate for Chinese enterprises to invest and do business there, the source cited. The Russian leader told his counterpart that the partnership between the two sides has repeatedly demonstrated its resilience to outside challenges.