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In a significant step to strengthen its future security, the Ukrainian government has finalized a preliminary agreement to acquire as many as 100 Rafale fighter jets, drones, air defense equipment and other key equipment from France. The agreement was formalized by Ukraine's leader Zelenskyy and France's leader Emmanuel Macron during a joint news conference at the Elysée presidential residence. Zelenskyy referred to the arrangement as “an unprecedented agreement.”

Forcibly Deported Children: Relatives 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 fate, stating that all contact has been severed. At a rare press event in the French capital, a legal guardian, who is responsible for two children removed after Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in recent years, said that Russian authorities are ignoring every appeal to facilitate the children's return.

Drone Strike Hits Turkish-Flagged Tanker in Southern Ukraine

An unmanned aerial vehicle struck a Turkey-registered ship and caused a fire in the southern part of the Odesa area, authorities said. The incident took place just one day after the Ukrainian president approved a agreement to import US LNG through the region. The vessel was hit while offloading liquefied petroleum gas at Izmail harbor, as stated by Turkey's Directorate for Maritime Affairs. All 16 crew on board evacuated and no one was injured.

Romanian Officials Relocate Communities After Drone Attack

Romanian authorities announced they had relocated two communities close to the Ukraine frontier following the aerial strike on the tanker. After entering Ukraine in recent years, Russian forces has consistently targeted Ukrainian ports in the Danube area, triggering alerts in adjacent the country.

US President Trump Open to Approve Russian Penalties Legislation

The American leader Trump is prepared to approve a bill to enact penalties on the Russian Federation, provided that he retains final decision-making authority over any such measures, a senior White House official said. The U.S. president told journalists late on Sunday that it was “OK with me” that Republicans were drafting legislation to apply sanctions on countries doing business with Moscow over its inability to negotiate a peace deal with the Ukrainian government.

Poland's Prime Minister Calls Rail Blast an “Never-Before-Seen Act of Sabotage”

Poland's prime minister, Donald Tusk, has described an blast along a part of railway line used for shipments to Ukraine as an “unprecedented act of sabotage” that could have led to catastrophe. These remarks came as a statement from legal authorities saying that an investigation had opened “concerning acts of disruption of a terror-related kind […] carried out on behalf of a external intelligence agency against the Republic of the country.”

Chinese Leader Expresses Readiness to Deepen Partnership with Russia

China is prepared to strengthen collaboration with the Russian Federation in the energy sector, farming and other investments, Leader Li stated during a discussion with Russia's leader Mishustin in Moscow. The Chinese premier told Mishustin that the country welcomes more agricultural and food-related products from Russia, as per a state-run news agency. The Chinese side also desires that Moscow will make it easier for Chinese enterprises to put money and do business there, the source mentioned. The Russian leader assured Li that the cooperation between the two sides has repeatedly proven its strength to external challenges.