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In a significant move to strengthen its future defense, the Ukrainian government has signed a letter of intent to purchase as many as 100 Rafale warplanes, drones, air defence systems and additional key gear from France. The agreement was formalized by Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy and France's leader Emmanuel Macron during a shared press briefing at the Elysée presidential palace. The Ukrainian leader referred to the arrangement as “an unprecedented deal.”

Against Their Will Deported Minors: Families Cut Off Communication

Several relatives of Ukrainian minors who were forcibly deported to Russia have raised concerns about their fate, reporting that every line of communication has been severed. During a rare press event in the French capital, Darina Repina, who is responsible for two minors taken after Russia's full-scale military action of Ukraine in 2022, said that officials in Russia are disregarding every appeal to help with the children's repatriation.

Unmanned Aerial Attack Targets Turkey-Registered Vessel in Southern Ukraine

A drone hit a Turkey-registered ship and caused a fire in southern Ukraine's Odesa area, officials said. This event took place just a day after Zelenskyy approved a deal to import US liquefied natural gas via the region. The MT Orinda was hit while offloading liquefied petroleum gas at Izmail port, according to Turkish maritime authority. All 16 crew members aboard were safely removed and no one was injured.

Romanian Authorities Relocate Communities Following Aerial Incident

Romania's authorities said they had evacuated two communities close to the Ukrainian frontier after the drone attack on the tanker. After invading Ukraine in recent years, Moscow has repeatedly attacked Ukrainian harbors in the Danube region, causing alerts in neighbouring Romania.

United States President Donald Trump Willing to Sign Russian Penalties Bill

US president Donald Trump is willing to approve a bill to enact sanctions on Russia, as long as he keeps ultimate decision-making power over these measures, an high-ranking U.S. administration official stated. The U.S. president told reporters late on Sunday that it was “acceptable to me” that Republicans were drafting legislation to apply restrictions on countries engaging commercially with Russia over its inability to negotiate a ceasefire agreement with the Ukrainian government.

Poland's Prime Minister Calls Railway Explosion an “Unprecedented Act of Sabotage”

Poland's prime minister, Tusk, has described an blast along a section of railway line used for deliveries to Ukraine as an “unprecedented act of sabotage” that could have led to disaster. This statement came as a statement from public prosecutors saying that an inquiry had opened “concerning actions of sabotage of a terror-related nature […] carried out on orders of a foreign intelligence service against the Republic of the country.”

Chinese Premier Expresses Willingness to Deepen Cooperation with Russia

The Chinese government is ready to deepen collaboration with Russia in the energy sector, farming and additional financial ventures, Leader Li Qiang stated during a discussion with Russia's leader Mikhail Mishustin in the Russian capital. The Chinese premier informed Mishustin that the country is open to more farm and food-related goods from the nation, according to a state-run media outlet. The Chinese side also hopes that Russia will facilitate for Chinese enterprises to put money and do business in Russia, the report mentioned. The Russian leader told his counterpart that the partnership between the two sides has consistently proven its resilience to outside pressures.