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Through a major step to bolster its future security, the Ukrainian government has finalized a preliminary agreement to acquire up to 100 Rafale jets, unmanned aerial vehicles, air defense equipment and other key equipment from France. This deal was formalized by Ukrainian president Zelenskyy and France's leader Macron during a shared news conference at the Elysée residence. The Ukrainian leader referred to the pact as “an unprecedented deal.”

Against Their Will Taken Minors: Families Cut Off Communication

A number of families of Ukrainian children who were forcibly deported to Russia have raised concerns about their fate, stating that every line of communication has been severed. At a rare news conference in Paris, Darina Repina, who cares for two children taken after Moscow's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in recent years, said that Russian authorities are ignoring all requests to facilitate the children's return.

Unmanned Aerial Attack Hits Turkey-Registered Vessel in Southern Ukraine

An unmanned aerial vehicle hit a Turkey-registered tanker and set it ablaze in the southern part of Ukraine's Odesa area, authorities said. The incident took place just one day after the Ukrainian president approved a deal to bring in US LNG via the area. The vessel was hit while offloading LPG at Izmail harbor, as stated by Turkey's Directorate for Maritime Affairs. All 16 crew members aboard were safely removed and no one was injured.

Romanian Officials Evacuate Communities After Aerial Attack

Romanian officials said they had relocated two villages near the Ukrainian border following the drone attack on the MT Orinda. After invading Ukraine in recent years, Moscow has repeatedly attacked Ukraine's harbors in the Danube River region, causing warnings in adjacent the country.

United States Leader Donald Trump Willing to Sign Russia Sanctions Legislation

US president Donald Trump is prepared to sign a bill to enact penalties on the Russian Federation, as long as he keeps final authority power over these actions, an high-ranking U.S. administration official stated. The U.S. president informed journalists recently that it was “OK with me” that GOP members were drafting a bill to impose sanctions on countries doing business with Moscow over its failure to negotiate a peace deal with the Ukrainian government.

Polish Leader Calls Rail Blast an “Never-Before-Seen Case of Sabotage”

The Polish prime minister, Tusk, has described an explosion along a section of railway line used for shipments to Ukraine as an “unprecedented act of disruption” that might have led to catastrophe. These remarks coincided with a statement from legal authorities indicating that an inquiry had opened “regarding acts of disruption of a terrorist kind […] committed on orders of a external spy service against the nation of the country.”

China Leader Expresses Willingness to Expand Partnership with Russian Federation

China is ready to strengthen collaboration with Russia in energy, 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 his counterpart that China is open to more agricultural and food-related goods from the nation, as per a state-run news agency. The Chinese side also desires that Russia will make it easier for Chinese enterprises to put money and do business there, the report mentioned. Mishustin told Li that the partnership between the two sides has consistently demonstrated its strength to outside challenges.