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Through a major move to strengthen its long-term security, Ukraine has finalized a preliminary agreement to acquire up to 100 Rafale warplanes, drones, air defence systems and other essential equipment from France. The agreement was signed by Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy and French president Macron during a shared news conference at the Elysée palace. The Ukrainian leader referred to the pact as “an unprecedented agreement.”

Forcibly Deported Minors: Relatives Lose Communication

A number of families of Ukrainian children who were forcibly deported to the Russian Federation have raised concerns about their fate, stating that every line of communication has been cut off. At a rare news conference in Paris, a legal guardian, who is responsible for two minors taken after Moscow's widespread invasion of Ukraine in 2022, stated that Russian authorities are ignoring every appeal to help with the minors' repatriation.

Unmanned Aerial Strike Hits Turkish-Flagged Tanker in Odesa

An unmanned aerial vehicle struck a Turkey-registered ship and set it ablaze in the southern part of the Odesa region, officials reported. This event took place just one day after Zelenskyy signed a agreement to import US liquefied natural gas through the area. The MT Orinda was hit while offloading LPG at Izmail harbor, according to Turkish maritime authority. All 16 crew members on board evacuated and not a single person was hurt.

Romanian Officials Evacuate Communities After Aerial Attack

Romania's authorities said they had relocated two communities near the Ukrainian border following the drone attack on the MT Orinda. After invading the country in recent years, Russian forces has repeatedly attacked Ukraine's harbors in the Danube region, causing warnings in neighbouring Romania.

United States President Trump Open to Sign Russian Sanctions Legislation

US president Donald Trump is willing to approve legislation to impose penalties on Russia, as long as he retains final decision-making power over these actions, an high-ranking White House official stated. Trump told reporters late on Sunday that it was “acceptable to me” that GOP members were drafting a bill to impose sanctions on nations engaging commercially with Moscow over its inability to reach a peace deal with Ukraine.

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

The Polish prime minister, Donald Tusk, has described an blast along a section of railway line employed in deliveries to Ukraine as an “unprecedented instance of sabotage” that might have led to disaster. These remarks came as a statement from public prosecutors indicating that an inquiry had opened “regarding actions of sabotage of a terror-related kind […] carried out on orders of a foreign intelligence service against the Republic of the country.”

China Premier Expresses Willingness to Expand Partnership with Russian Federation

China is ready to strengthen collaboration with Russia in energy, agriculture and other financial ventures, Premier Li said during a meeting with Russia's leader Mikhail Mishustin in the Russian capital. Li told Mishustin that the country is open to more agricultural and food products from Russia, according to a state-run media outlet. China also hopes that Russia will facilitate for Chinese enterprises to put money and operate there, the source cited. The Russian leader told Li that the cooperation between the two sides has consistently proven its resilience to outside pressures.