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Through a major step to strengthen its long-term defense, Ukraine has signed a preliminary agreement to purchase up to 100 Rafale jets, drones, air defense equipment and additional essential equipment from France. The agreement was signed by Ukraine's leader Volodymyr Zelenskyy and French president Macron during a shared news conference at the Elysée palace. Zelenskyy described the pact as “an unprecedented deal.”

Against Their Will Taken Children: Relatives Cut Off Communication

Several families of Ukrainian children who were forcibly deported to Russia have sounded the alarm about their fate, reporting that every line of communication has been severed. During a rare news conference in the French capital, a legal guardian, who cares for two children removed after Moscow's full-scale military action of the country in 2022, said that officials in Russia are disregarding all requests to help with the minors' return.

Drone Attack Hits Turkish-Flagged Tanker in Odesa

An unmanned aerial vehicle hit a Turkish-flagged ship and caused a fire in the southern part of Ukraine's Odesa area, officials reported. The incident occurred just a day after the Ukrainian president signed a deal to import American liquefied natural gas through the area. The vessel was struck while offloading LPG at Izmail port, as stated by Turkish Directorate for Maritime Affairs. All 16 crew members aboard were safely removed and no one was injured.

Romania's Authorities Evacuate Villages After Aerial Incident

Romanian authorities announced they had evacuated two communities near the Ukraine border following the aerial strike on the MT Orinda. After entering the country in recent years, Moscow has consistently attacked Ukrainian ports in the Danube region, triggering alerts in adjacent the country.

United States Leader Trump Willing to Approve Russia Penalties Legislation

US president Donald Trump is prepared to approve legislation to enact sanctions on Russia, as long as he keeps final decision-making power over these measures, a senior White House official said. Trump informed journalists recently that it was “acceptable to me” that GOP members were drafting legislation to impose restrictions on countries engaging commercially with Russia over its inability to negotiate a ceasefire agreement with Ukraine.

Polish Prime Minister Calls Railway Explosion an “Never-Before-Seen Case of Sabotage”

Poland's leader, Tusk, has labeled an blast along a part of rail track used for shipments to the country as an “unprecedented act of sabotage” that might have resulted in disaster. This statement coincided with a announcement from legal authorities indicating that an investigation had opened “concerning acts of sabotage of a terror-related kind […] carried out on orders of a foreign spy service against the nation of the country.”

Chinese Premier Shows Willingness to Deepen Cooperation with Russian Federation

China is ready to deepen cooperation with Russia in energy, farming and other financial ventures, Premier Li said during a meeting with Russia's leader Mikhail Mishustin in Moscow. The Chinese premier told his counterpart that the country is open to more farm and food-related products from the nation, as per the official news agency. The Chinese side also desires that Moscow will facilitate for Chinese enterprises to put money and do business in Russia, the source cited. The Russian leader told Li that the cooperation between the two sides has repeatedly proven its resilience to outside challenges.