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In a significant step to bolster its future security, Ukraine has signed a letter of intent to acquire as many as 100 Rafale warplanes, unmanned aerial vehicles, air defence systems and other essential gear from France. The agreement was signed by Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy and French president Emmanuel Macron during a joint press briefing at the Elysée residence. Zelenskyy referred to the pact as “an unprecedented agreement.”

Forcibly Taken Children: Relatives Lose Communication

A number of relatives of Ukraine's children who were taken against their will to Russia have sounded the alarm about their fate, stating that all contact has been cut off. During a rare press event in the French capital, Darina Repina, who is responsible for two children taken after Moscow's widespread military action of Ukraine in recent years, said that Russian authorities are ignoring every appeal to facilitate the children's repatriation.

Unmanned Aerial Strike Targets Turkey-Registered Tanker in Southern Ukraine

An unmanned aerial vehicle hit a Turkish-flagged ship and caused a fire in southern the Odesa area, authorities said. The incident took place just a day after the Ukrainian president signed a deal to import American liquefied natural gas via the area. The MT Orinda was hit while unloading LPG at Izmail harbor, according to Turkey's maritime authority. Every one of the 16 crew members on board evacuated and not a single person was hurt.

Romania's Authorities Relocate Villages Following Aerial Incident

Romania's authorities announced they had relocated two villages near the Ukrainian border after the drone attack on the MT Orinda. Since entering the country in recent years, Russian forces has repeatedly targeted Ukrainian ports in the Danube area, causing warnings in neighbouring Romania.

United States President Donald Trump Open to Sign Russia Sanctions Bill

The American leader Trump is willing to approve legislation to impose penalties on Russia, as long as he keeps final decision-making authority over these measures, an high-ranking White House official said. Trump told reporters recently that it was “acceptable to me” that Republicans were drafting a bill to apply restrictions on nations engaging commercially with Moscow over its failure to negotiate a peace deal with the Ukrainian government.

Poland's Prime Minister Calls Railway Explosion an “Never-Before-Seen Case 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 might have resulted in catastrophe. These remarks coincided with a statement from public prosecutors indicating that an investigation had been initiated “regarding acts of sabotage of a terrorist kind […] committed on orders of a foreign spy agency against the nation of the country.”

Chinese Leader Shows Willingness to Expand Partnership with Russia

China is ready to deepen cooperation with the Russian Federation in the energy sector, farming and additional financial ventures, Leader Li stated during a discussion with Russian prime minister Mikhail Mishustin in Moscow. Li told his counterpart that China welcomes more farm and food products from the nation, as per the official news agency. The Chinese side also hopes that Russia will make it easier for companies from China to put money and do business in Russia, the source cited. The Russian leader told Li that the cooperation between the both nations has consistently proven its resilience to external pressures.