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Through a major move to bolster its future defense, Ukraine has signed a preliminary agreement to acquire as many as 100 Rafale fighter jets, drones, air defense equipment and additional key equipment from France. The agreement was formalized by Ukrainian president Zelenskyy and France's leader Emmanuel Macron during a shared press briefing at the Elysée presidential residence. Zelenskyy described the pact as “a historic deal.”

Against Their Will Deported Minors: Relatives Cut Off Contact

Several relatives of Ukrainian minors who were taken against their will to Russia have raised concerns about their well-being, reporting that every line of communication has been cut off. During a rare news conference in the French capital, a legal guardian, who is responsible for two children taken after Russia's widespread invasion of Ukraine in recent years, stated that officials in Russia are disregarding every appeal to facilitate the children's repatriation.

Drone Strike Hits Turkish-Flagged Vessel in Odesa

An unmanned aerial vehicle struck a Turkish-flagged tanker and caused a fire in southern Ukraine's Odesa area, authorities reported. This event occurred just one day after Zelenskyy signed a agreement to bring in American liquefied natural gas through the area. The MT Orinda was struck while unloading LPG at Izmail harbor, as stated by Turkish maritime authority. Every one of the 16 crew aboard were safely removed and not a single person was injured.

Romanian Officials Evacuate Villages After Aerial Incident

Romanian authorities said they had evacuated two communities near the Ukrainian border after the aerial strike on the MT Orinda. Since invading the country in recent years, Moscow has consistently attacked Ukrainian ports in the Danube area, causing alerts in neighbouring the country.

US President Donald Trump Willing to Sign Russian Sanctions Legislation

The American leader Donald Trump is prepared to sign legislation to enact sanctions on Russia, as long as he keeps ultimate decision-making power over these measures, a senior U.S. administration official stated. The U.S. president informed journalists late on Sunday that it was “OK with me” that GOP members were drafting legislation to impose sanctions on nations engaging commercially with Russia over its failure to negotiate a peace deal with the Ukrainian government.

Poland's Leader Calls Rail Explosion an “Never-Before-Seen Case of Sabotage”

Poland's leader, Tusk, has labeled an explosion along a part of rail track employed in shipments to the country as an “unprecedented instance of sabotage” that might have led to catastrophe. This statement came as a statement from legal authorities indicating that an investigation had opened “concerning acts of sabotage of a terror-related kind […] committed on orders of a foreign intelligence service against the Republic of Poland.”

Chinese Leader Shows Readiness to Deepen Cooperation with Russia

China is prepared to deepen collaboration with the Russian Federation in energy, farming and other financial ventures, Premier Li Qiang said during a meeting with Russia's leader Mikhail Mishustin in the Russian capital. Li informed Mishustin that China is open to more farm and food products from Russia, as per a state-run news agency. China also hopes that Moscow will make it easier for companies from China to put money and do business there, the source mentioned. The Russian leader told Li that the cooperation between the two sides has consistently demonstrated its resilience to outside challenges.