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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 fighter jets, drones, air defence systems and other key gear from France. The agreement was signed by Ukraine's leader Zelenskyy and France's leader Macron during a joint news conference at the Elysée presidential residence. The Ukrainian leader described the pact as “a historic agreement.”

Forcibly Deported Minors: Relatives Lose Contact

Several relatives of Ukrainian minors who were taken against their will to Russia have sounded the alarm about their fate, reporting that every line of communication has been cut off. At a rare press event in the French capital, a legal guardian, who cares for two minors taken after Russia's widespread invasion of the country in 2022, stated that Russian authorities are ignoring every appeal to help with the minors' return.

Unmanned Aerial Attack Targets Turkey-Registered Tanker in Southern Ukraine

A drone hit a Turkish-flagged ship and caused a fire in southern the Odesa area, officials reported. The incident 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 unloading liquefied petroleum gas at Izmail harbor, as stated by Turkish maritime authority. All 16 crew on board were safely removed and not a single person was hurt.

Romania's Officials Evacuate Villages After Drone Incident

Romanian authorities said they had evacuated two villages close to the Ukraine border after the aerial strike on the MT Orinda. Since entering the country in recent years, Russian forces has consistently targeted Ukrainian harbors in the Danube region, causing alerts in neighbouring Romania.

United States Leader Trump Willing to Sign Russian Sanctions Legislation

US president Trump is willing to approve legislation to enact penalties on Russia, as long as he keeps final authority power over these measures, a senior U.S. administration official said. Trump informed journalists late on Sunday that it was “acceptable to me” that GOP members were working on a bill to apply restrictions on nations engaging commercially with Moscow over its inability to reach a peace deal with the Ukrainian government.

Polish Leader Describes Rail Explosion an “Unprecedented Act of Sabotage”

The Polish prime minister, Tusk, has described an explosion along a section of railway line employed in shipments to the country as an “unprecedented instance of sabotage” that might have resulted in catastrophe. This statement came as a statement from legal authorities saying that an inquiry had opened “concerning acts of disruption of a terrorist kind […] committed on orders of a external spy agency against the Republic of the country.”

China Leader Shows Willingness to Expand Cooperation with Russia

The Chinese government is ready to strengthen collaboration with Russia in energy, farming and additional financial ventures, Premier Li Qiang stated during a meeting with Russian prime minister Mishustin in Moscow. Li informed Mishustin that the country welcomes more agricultural and food goods from Russia, according to the official media outlet. The Chinese side also hopes that Moscow will facilitate for Chinese enterprises to put money and operate in Russia, the source mentioned. Mishustin assured his counterpart that the cooperation between the both nations has consistently proven its strength to outside challenges.