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Through a major step to bolster its future defense, the Ukrainian government has signed a letter of intent to purchase as many as 100 Rafale warplanes, unmanned aerial vehicles, air defense equipment and other key equipment from the French Republic. The agreement was signed by Ukraine's leader Zelenskyy and French president Macron during a joint press briefing at the Elysée residence. Zelenskyy referred to the pact as “a historic deal.”

Forcibly Taken Minors: Relatives Lose Communication

A number of families of Ukraine's children who were forcibly deported to the Russian Federation have raised concerns about their well-being, reporting that all contact has been cut off. During a uncommon news conference in the French capital, Darina Repina, who is responsible for two children removed after Moscow's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, stated that officials in Russia are disregarding every appeal to help with the children's return.

Unmanned Aerial Strike Hits Turkey-Registered Vessel in Odesa

An unmanned aerial vehicle struck a Turkish-flagged ship and caused a fire in the southern part of Ukraine's Odesa region, officials said. This event took place just a day after Zelenskyy approved a deal to import US liquefied natural gas through the area. The vessel was hit while offloading liquefied petroleum gas at Izmail port, according to Turkey's Directorate for Maritime Affairs. Every one of the 16 crew members on board were safely removed and not a single person was injured.

Romania's Officials Evacuate Villages After Aerial Incident

Romania's authorities said they had evacuated two villages near the Ukraine border following the aerial strike on the MT Orinda. After entering the country in 2022, Moscow has repeatedly targeted Ukrainian harbors in the Danube River area, triggering alerts in neighbouring the country.

US Leader Trump Open to Approve Russian Sanctions Bill

The American leader Trump is prepared to approve a bill to enact sanctions on Russia, provided that he keeps ultimate decision-making power over these actions, a senior White House representative said. The U.S. president told reporters late on Sunday that it was “OK with me” that GOP members were working on legislation to apply restrictions on nations doing business with Russia over its failure to reach a ceasefire agreement with the Ukrainian government.

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

The Polish leader, Donald Tusk, has labeled an blast along a section of railway line used for deliveries to the country as an “unprecedented act of sabotage” that might have led to catastrophe. This statement coincided with a announcement from legal authorities indicating that an inquiry had been initiated “concerning acts of disruption of a terror-related kind […] carried out on orders of a foreign spy service against the nation of Poland.”

Chinese Premier Expresses Readiness to Expand Partnership with Russia

The Chinese government is prepared to deepen collaboration with Russia in energy, agriculture and other financial ventures, Leader Li Qiang said during a discussion with Russia's leader Mishustin in Moscow. The Chinese premier told Mishustin that the country welcomes more agricultural and food goods from Russia, as per a state-run news agency. China also hopes that Russia will facilitate for Chinese enterprises to invest and do business in Russia, the report mentioned. Mishustin told Li that the partnership between the two sides has consistently demonstrated its resilience to external challenges.