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Through a major move to bolster its long-term defense, Ukraine has signed a preliminary agreement to purchase as many as 100 Rafale fighter jets, drones, air defense equipment and other key gear from France. This deal was signed by Ukrainian president Zelenskyy and French president Macron during a shared news conference at the Elysée palace. The Ukrainian leader described the arrangement as “an unprecedented deal.”

Against Their Will Taken Minors: Families Lose Contact

Several families of Ukraine's minors who were taken against their will to the Russian Federation have raised concerns about their fate, stating that every line of communication has been cut off. During a uncommon press event in Paris, a legal guardian, who is responsible for two children taken after Moscow's full-scale invasion of the country in 2022, stated that officials in Russia are ignoring every appeal to facilitate the minors' return.

Unmanned Aerial Strike Targets Turkey-Registered Tanker in Odesa

An unmanned aerial vehicle struck a Turkish-flagged tanker and set it ablaze in southern Ukraine's Odesa region, officials reported. This event took place just one day after the Ukrainian president signed a deal to bring in US LNG via the region. The vessel was hit while offloading liquefied petroleum gas at Izmail harbor, as stated by Turkish Directorate for Maritime Affairs. Every one of the 16 crew on board evacuated and not a single person was hurt.

Romania's Authorities Relocate Communities After Drone Incident

Romanian authorities said they had relocated two communities near the Ukraine frontier following the aerial strike on the tanker. After entering the country in recent years, Moscow has repeatedly targeted Ukrainian ports in the Danube River area, triggering alerts in adjacent the country.

United States President Trump Willing to Approve Russia Sanctions Bill

The American leader Trump is willing to approve a bill to impose penalties on the Russian Federation, as long as he retains final decision-making authority over these measures, an high-ranking White House official said. Trump informed reporters recently that it was “acceptable to me” that Republicans were working on a bill to apply sanctions on countries engaging commercially with Russia over its inability to reach a ceasefire agreement with Ukraine.

Polish Leader Calls Railway Blast an “Never-Before-Seen Case of Disruption”

Poland's prime minister, Donald 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. These remarks came as a announcement from legal authorities saying that an inquiry had opened “regarding actions of disruption of a terror-related kind […] committed on orders of a external intelligence agency against the Republic of Poland.”

China Leader Shows Readiness to Expand Cooperation with Russian Federation

China is ready to strengthen cooperation with the Russian Federation in energy, agriculture and other financial ventures, Leader Li Qiang said during a discussion with Russian prime minister Mikhail Mishustin in the Russian capital. Li informed his counterpart that China welcomes more agricultural and food-related goods from Russia, according to the official media outlet. The Chinese side also hopes that Russia will make it easier for companies from China to invest and do business there, the report mentioned. Mishustin told Li that the cooperation between the two sides has repeatedly proven its resilience to outside challenges.