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Through a major move to bolster its long-term security, the Ukrainian government has signed a letter of intent to acquire up to 100 Rafale warplanes, drones, air defence systems and other essential gear from France. The agreement was formalized by Ukrainian president Zelenskyy and French president Macron during a shared news conference at the Elysée palace. Zelenskyy described the pact as “a historic agreement.”

Forcibly Deported Children: Families Cut Off Communication

Several families of Ukrainian children who were taken against their will to Russia have sounded the alarm about their fate, stating that all contact has been severed. At a rare news conference in the French capital, a legal guardian, who cares for two minors removed after Moscow's widespread military action of the country in 2022, said that officials in Russia are disregarding every appeal to help with the children's return.

Unmanned Aerial Attack Hits Turkey-Registered Tanker in Southern Ukraine

A drone struck a Turkish-flagged ship and set it ablaze in the southern part of the Odesa region, officials said. The incident occurred just one day after Zelenskyy signed a deal to import US LNG through the area. The vessel was struck while unloading LPG at Izmail port, according to Turkey's Directorate for Maritime Affairs. Every one of the 16 crew on board were safely removed and not a single person was injured.

Romania's Officials Relocate Communities After Aerial Incident

Romanian officials said they had relocated two communities close to the Ukrainian frontier following the drone attack on the MT Orinda. Since entering Ukraine in recent years, Russian forces has consistently attacked Ukraine's harbors in the Danube area, causing alerts in adjacent Romania.

US President Trump Willing to Approve Russian Sanctions Bill

The American leader Trump is willing to sign a bill to enact sanctions on Russia, provided that he retains ultimate decision-making authority over any such actions, an high-ranking White House official said. The U.S. president informed journalists recently that it was “OK with me” that Republicans were working on a bill to apply restrictions on countries engaging commercially with Russia over its inability to negotiate a ceasefire agreement with Ukraine.

Poland's Leader Describes Railway Explosion an “Never-Before-Seen Act of Disruption”

The Polish prime minister, Donald Tusk, has labeled an explosion along a section of rail track employed in shipments to the country as an “unprecedented act of disruption” that might have resulted in disaster. This statement came as a announcement from legal authorities indicating that an inquiry had been initiated “concerning actions of disruption of a terror-related nature […] committed on orders of a external intelligence agency against the nation of the country.”

China Leader Shows Willingness to Deepen Cooperation with Russian Federation

China is ready to deepen cooperation with the Russian Federation in the energy sector, agriculture and other financial ventures, Leader Li Qiang said during a discussion with Russia's leader Mikhail Mishustin in the Russian capital. The Chinese premier informed Mishustin that the country welcomes more farm and food-related products from the nation, according to a state-run media outlet. China also desires that Russia will make it easier for Chinese enterprises to invest and do business in Russia, the source cited. Mishustin assured his counterpart that the partnership between the both nations has repeatedly demonstrated its resilience to external challenges.