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In a significant step to strengthen its future defense, Ukraine has signed a preliminary agreement to acquire as many as 100 Rafale fighter warplanes, unmanned aerial vehicles, air defense equipment and additional key equipment from the French Republic. The agreement was formalized by Ukraine's leader Zelenskyy and French president Macron during a joint press briefing at the Elysée presidential residence. The Ukrainian leader described the pact as “an unprecedented deal.”

Forcibly Deported Minors: Families Cut Off Contact

Several families of Ukraine's minors who were taken against their will to the Russian Federation have sounded the alarm about their well-being, stating that all contact has been severed. During a rare press event in the French capital, a legal guardian, who is responsible for two minors taken after Moscow's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, said that officials in Russia are disregarding every appeal to facilitate the children's repatriation.

Drone Attack Hits Turkey-Registered Tanker in Odesa

An unmanned aerial vehicle struck a Turkish-flagged ship and caused a fire in southern Ukraine's Odesa region, officials said. This event occurred just a day after Zelenskyy approved a deal to import American LNG via the region. The vessel was hit while unloading liquefied petroleum gas at Izmail port, according to Turkish Directorate for Maritime Affairs. Every one of the 16 crew members aboard were safely removed and no one was injured.

Romanian Officials Evacuate Communities Following Drone Incident

Romania's authorities announced they had evacuated two villages close to the Ukraine frontier following the aerial strike on the MT Orinda. After invading the country in 2022, Russian forces has repeatedly attacked Ukraine's ports in the Danube River area, triggering alerts in neighbouring Romania.

US President Donald Trump Willing to Sign Russian Sanctions Legislation

The American leader Trump is prepared to sign a bill to enact sanctions on the Russian Federation, as long as he keeps ultimate decision-making authority over these measures, a senior U.S. administration official said. Trump told journalists recently that it was “OK with me” that Republicans were working on legislation to impose restrictions on countries doing business with Russia over its failure to negotiate a ceasefire agreement with Ukraine.

Polish Leader Calls Rail Explosion an “Never-Before-Seen Case of Sabotage”

The Polish prime minister, Donald Tusk, has described an explosion along a section of rail track employed in shipments to the country as an “unprecedented instance of disruption” that might have led to catastrophe. This statement coincided with a announcement from public prosecutors indicating that an investigation had opened “concerning acts of disruption of a terrorist kind […] committed on behalf of a foreign spy service against the Republic of the country.”

Chinese Premier Expresses Readiness to Deepen Partnership with Russian Federation

China is prepared to deepen cooperation with Russia in the energy sector, agriculture and other financial ventures, Premier Li said during a discussion with Russia's leader Mikhail Mishustin in Moscow. Li informed his counterpart that the country is open to more agricultural and food goods from the nation, as per the official news agency. The Chinese side also hopes that Russia will make it easier for Chinese enterprises to put money and do business there, the report cited. The Russian leader told his counterpart that the partnership between the two sides has repeatedly demonstrated its resilience to outside pressures.