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In a significant step to bolster its future defense, Ukraine has finalized a preliminary agreement to acquire up to 100 Rafale warplanes, drones, air defense equipment and other key equipment from France. The agreement was signed by Ukrainian president Zelenskyy and France's leader Emmanuel Macron during a shared press briefing at the Elysée residence. Zelenskyy described the pact as “a historic agreement.”

Against Their Will Deported Minors: Families Cut Off Contact

A number of families of Ukrainian children who were taken against their will to the Russian Federation have sounded the alarm about their well-being, stating that every line of communication has been cut off. At a rare news conference in the French capital, a legal guardian, who is responsible for two minors taken after Moscow's full-scale military action of the country in recent years, stated that Russian authorities are disregarding all requests to help with the minors' repatriation.

Drone Attack Hits Turkish-Flagged Tanker in Southern Ukraine

An unmanned aerial vehicle struck a Turkish-flagged tanker and set it ablaze in southern Ukraine's Odesa region, officials reported. The incident occurred just a day after the Ukrainian president approved a agreement to bring in US LNG via the region. The vessel was hit while offloading LPG at Izmail harbor, according to Turkey's Directorate for Maritime Affairs. All 16 crew members aboard evacuated and no one was injured.

Romanian Authorities Evacuate Communities After Aerial Attack

Romanian officials said they had evacuated two communities near the Ukraine border following the drone attack on the MT Orinda. Since entering Ukraine in recent years, Moscow has consistently attacked Ukrainian harbors in the Danube River region, triggering warnings in adjacent Romania.

US President Trump Open to Approve Russia Penalties Bill

US president Trump is willing to approve legislation to enact sanctions on the Russian Federation, provided that he keeps ultimate authority authority over these actions, an high-ranking U.S. administration representative stated. The U.S. president informed journalists late on Sunday that it was “acceptable to me” that Republicans were working on a bill to apply sanctions on countries engaging commercially with Moscow over its failure to negotiate a peace deal with Ukraine.

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

Poland's prime minister, Tusk, has labeled an explosion along a part of rail track employed in shipments to Ukraine as an “unprecedented instance of sabotage” that could have resulted in disaster. This statement coincided with a statement from legal authorities saying that an investigation had opened “concerning acts of disruption of a terror-related kind […] carried out on behalf of a foreign intelligence agency against the Republic of Poland.”

China Leader Shows Readiness to Deepen Cooperation with Russia

The Chinese government is prepared to deepen collaboration with Russia in the energy sector, agriculture and additional financial ventures, Premier Li stated during a discussion with Russian prime minister Mishustin in Moscow. The Chinese premier told Mishustin that the country is open to more farm and food products from Russia, according to a state-run news agency. The Chinese side also desires that Moscow will make it easier for Chinese enterprises to put money and do business there, the source mentioned. The Russian leader told Li that the cooperation between the both nations has consistently demonstrated its resilience to external challenges.