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Through a major step to strengthen its future defense, the Ukrainian government has signed a preliminary agreement to purchase up to 100 Rafale fighter warplanes, unmanned aerial vehicles, air defense equipment and additional essential equipment from the French Republic. The agreement was formalized by Ukraine's leader Zelenskyy and French president Macron during a shared news conference at the Elysée residence. Zelenskyy described the arrangement as “a historic agreement.”

Forcibly Taken Minors: Relatives Lose Contact

Several relatives of Ukrainian minors who were taken against their will to Russia have sounded the alarm about their well-being, reporting that every line of communication has been cut off. At a uncommon press event in Paris, a legal guardian, who is responsible for two minors taken after Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in recent years, said that Russian authorities are disregarding all requests to help with the minors' repatriation.

Drone Strike Hits Turkey-Registered Tanker in Odesa

An unmanned aerial vehicle hit a Turkey-registered ship and caused a fire in the southern part of the Odesa region, authorities reported. This event occurred just one day after Zelenskyy approved a deal to import US LNG via the region. The vessel was hit while offloading LPG at Izmail port, as stated by Turkish Directorate for Maritime Affairs. All 16 crew members aboard evacuated and no one was injured.

Romanian Officials Evacuate Villages After Drone Attack

Romanian authorities said they had evacuated two communities near the Ukraine border after the drone attack on the MT Orinda. After entering the country in recent years, Russian forces has repeatedly targeted Ukraine's ports in the Danube area, causing warnings in adjacent Romania.

United States Leader Donald Trump Open to Sign Russia Sanctions Bill

The American leader Donald Trump is willing to approve legislation to impose penalties on the Russian Federation, provided that he keeps final authority authority over these measures, an high-ranking White House representative stated. Trump told reporters recently that it was “acceptable to me” that Republicans were working on legislation to impose restrictions on nations engaging commercially with Russia over its failure to reach a peace deal with Ukraine.

Polish Prime Minister Describes Rail Blast an “Never-Before-Seen Act of Sabotage”

Poland's leader, Donald Tusk, has labeled an blast along a part of railway line employed in deliveries to the country as an “unprecedented act of sabotage” that might have resulted in disaster. These remarks came as a announcement from legal authorities saying that an inquiry had opened “concerning acts of sabotage of a terror-related nature […] committed on orders of a foreign spy service against the nation of the country.”

China Leader Shows Willingness to Deepen Partnership with Russian Federation

China is ready to strengthen cooperation with the Russian Federation in energy, farming and other investments, Leader Li stated during a meeting with Russia's leader Mikhail Mishustin in Moscow. The Chinese premier told his counterpart that China is open to more farm and food-related products from the nation, according to the official media outlet. The Chinese side also hopes that Moscow will make it easier for Chinese enterprises to put money and operate there, the report mentioned. Mishustin assured Li that the cooperation between the two sides has consistently proven its strength to outside challenges.