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Through a major move to strengthen its long-term defense, Ukraine has signed a letter of intent to acquire as many as 100 Rafale fighter warplanes, unmanned aerial vehicles, air defense equipment and additional key gear from France. This deal was signed by Ukrainian president Zelenskyy and French president Emmanuel Macron during a shared news conference at the Elysée residence. The Ukrainian leader described the pact as “a historic agreement.”

Against Their Will Deported Children: Families Lose Contact

Several families of Ukraine's minors who were taken against their will to Russia have raised concerns about their well-being, reporting that all contact has been severed. At a rare press event in Paris, Darina Repina, who is responsible for two children removed after Moscow's full-scale invasion of the country in recent years, said that officials in Russia are disregarding all requests to facilitate the minors' return.

Drone Strike Hits Turkish-Flagged Tanker in Southern Ukraine

A drone hit a Turkey-registered tanker and caused a fire in southern Ukraine's Odesa region, authorities reported. This event occurred just a day after the Ukrainian president signed a deal to import American liquefied natural gas through the region. The MT Orinda was hit while offloading LPG at Izmail port, according to Turkey's Directorate for Maritime Affairs. All 16 crew members on board were safely removed and no one was hurt.

Romanian Authorities Relocate Villages After Drone Incident

Romanian authorities said they had evacuated two communities near the Ukraine border after the drone attack on the MT Orinda. Since entering Ukraine in recent years, Russian forces has repeatedly targeted Ukrainian harbors in the Danube River area, triggering warnings in adjacent Romania.

United States President Trump Willing to Sign Russia Sanctions Bill

US president Donald Trump is willing to sign legislation to enact sanctions on Russia, as long as he retains ultimate decision-making power over these measures, an high-ranking White House official stated. Trump told journalists late on Sunday that it was “OK with me” that Republicans were working on legislation to apply sanctions on countries doing business with Moscow over its failure to negotiate a ceasefire agreement with Ukraine.

Polish Leader Describes Rail Blast an “Never-Before-Seen Case of Sabotage”

The Polish leader, Donald Tusk, has described an blast along a section of railway line used for shipments to the country as an “unprecedented instance of disruption” that might have resulted in disaster. This statement came as a announcement from legal authorities indicating that an inquiry had opened “regarding actions of disruption of a terrorist kind […] committed on orders of a external spy service against the Republic of the country.”

Chinese Premier Expresses Readiness to Deepen Cooperation with Russian Federation

The Chinese government is ready to deepen cooperation with the Russian Federation in the energy sector, farming and other investments, Premier Li Qiang said during a meeting with Russia's leader Mishustin in Moscow. The Chinese premier informed Mishustin that the country welcomes more agricultural and food products from Russia, as per a state-run media outlet. China also desires that Moscow will facilitate for Chinese enterprises to put money and do business in Russia, the source mentioned. Mishustin assured his counterpart that the cooperation between the two sides has repeatedly demonstrated its resilience to outside challenges.