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Through a major move to bolster its long-term defense, the Ukrainian government has finalized a letter of intent to purchase as many as 100 Rafale warplanes, drones, air defence systems and other essential equipment from the French Republic. The agreement was signed by Ukraine's leader Zelenskyy and French president Emmanuel Macron during a shared news conference at the Elysée palace. The Ukrainian leader referred to the arrangement as “an unprecedented deal.”

Against Their Will Deported Minors: Families Lose Communication

Several families of Ukrainian children who were taken against their will to the Russian Federation have sounded the alarm about their fate, stating that all contact has been cut off. During a uncommon news conference in Paris, Darina Repina, who cares for two minors taken after Russia's full-scale military action of Ukraine in recent years, said that officials in Russia are disregarding every appeal to help with the minors' repatriation.

Drone Strike Targets Turkey-Registered Tanker in Odesa

A drone hit a Turkish-flagged ship and set it ablaze in the southern part of Ukraine's Odesa region, officials reported. The incident occurred just one day after Zelenskyy approved a deal to bring in American LNG through the region. The MT Orinda was struck while offloading liquefied petroleum gas at Izmail port, as stated by Turkey's Directorate for Maritime Affairs. Every one of the 16 crew aboard evacuated and not a single person was injured.

Romanian Officials Relocate Communities Following Drone Incident

Romania's officials said they had evacuated two communities near the Ukrainian border following the drone attack on the tanker. Since invading the country in 2022, Moscow has consistently attacked Ukrainian ports in the Danube area, triggering alerts in adjacent the country.

US Leader Trump Open to Approve Russia Sanctions Bill

The American leader Trump is willing to approve legislation to impose sanctions on Russia, provided that he keeps final decision-making authority over these actions, an high-ranking White House official said. Trump informed reporters late on Sunday that it was “acceptable to me” that GOP members were drafting legislation to impose sanctions on nations doing business with Russia over its inability to negotiate a peace deal with the Ukrainian government.

Polish Prime Minister Calls Railway Explosion an “Never-Before-Seen Case of Sabotage”

Poland's leader, Tusk, has labeled an blast along a section of rail track used for deliveries to Ukraine as an “unprecedented instance of disruption” that could have led to disaster. These remarks came as a statement from public prosecutors saying that an investigation had opened “concerning actions of sabotage of a terrorist nature […] carried out on behalf of a external intelligence agency against the Republic of Poland.”

Chinese Premier Shows Willingness to Deepen Cooperation with Russian Federation

China is ready to strengthen collaboration with Russia in the energy sector, farming and other financial ventures, Leader Li Qiang stated during a meeting with Russia's leader Mikhail Mishustin in Moscow. Li told Mishustin that China is open to more farm and food-related goods from Russia, according to 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 cited. Mishustin told Li that the partnership between the both nations has repeatedly proven its strength to external pressures.