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Through a major step to strengthen its long-term defense, Ukraine has signed a letter of intent to acquire as many as 100 Rafale warplanes, drones, air defense equipment and other key gear from France. The agreement was signed by Ukrainian president Zelenskyy and France's leader Macron during a shared press briefing at the Elysée residence. The Ukrainian leader referred to the pact as “a historic deal.”

Forcibly Deported Children: Relatives Cut Off Communication

A number of families of Ukraine's minors who were forcibly deported to the Russian Federation have sounded the alarm about their fate, stating that every line of communication has been cut off. During a rare press event in the French capital, Darina Repina, who cares for two minors removed after Russia's full-scale military action of Ukraine in 2022, stated that officials in Russia are disregarding all requests to help with the minors' return.

Unmanned Aerial Strike Hits Turkey-Registered Vessel in Odesa

A drone hit a Turkey-registered tanker and set it ablaze in the southern part of the Odesa area, officials said. The incident took place just a day after the Ukrainian president approved a deal to bring in American liquefied natural gas through the area. The MT Orinda was hit while offloading LPG at Izmail port, according to Turkey's Directorate for Maritime Affairs. Every one of the 16 crew on board evacuated and no one was hurt.

Romanian Authorities Relocate Communities After Drone Incident

Romania's authorities announced they had relocated two communities near the Ukrainian frontier after the aerial strike on the tanker. After invading the country in 2022, Russian forces has repeatedly attacked Ukrainian harbors in the Danube River region, causing alerts in neighbouring the country.

United States President Donald Trump Open to Sign Russia Sanctions Legislation

The American leader Trump is willing to approve legislation to impose sanctions on Russia, as long as he retains ultimate decision-making power over any such actions, an high-ranking U.S. administration official stated. The U.S. president informed journalists late on Sunday that it was “acceptable to me” that Republicans were working on legislation to apply sanctions on nations engaging commercially with Russia over its inability to negotiate a peace deal with Ukraine.

Polish Prime Minister Calls Rail Explosion an “Unprecedented Case of Sabotage”

Poland's prime minister, Tusk, has described an blast along a section of rail track employed in shipments to the country as an “unprecedented instance of sabotage” that could have led to disaster. These remarks came as a announcement from public prosecutors indicating that an investigation had opened “concerning acts of disruption of a terrorist kind […] committed on behalf of a foreign intelligence service against the nation of the country.”

Chinese Leader Shows Readiness to Deepen Partnership with Russia

China is prepared to deepen cooperation with the Russian Federation in energy, farming and other financial ventures, Premier Li said during a discussion with Russian prime minister Mikhail Mishustin in the Russian capital. The Chinese premier told his counterpart that China welcomes more farm and food-related products from Russia, as per a state-run media outlet. The Chinese side also hopes that Russia will make it easier for companies from China to put money and do business there, the source cited. Mishustin told his counterpart that the partnership between the two sides has consistently demonstrated its resilience to outside challenges.