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Through a major step to strengthen its long-term security, Ukraine has finalized a letter of intent to purchase up to 100 Rafale fighter jets, unmanned aerial vehicles, air defence systems and other essential gear from France. The agreement was signed by Ukrainian president Zelenskyy and France's leader Macron during a shared press briefing at the Elysée residence. Zelenskyy referred to the arrangement as “a historic deal.”

Forcibly Deported Children: Families Lose Communication

A number of families of Ukrainian minors who were forcibly deported to Russia have sounded the alarm about their fate, 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 removed after Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, said that Russian authorities are ignoring every appeal to facilitate the minors' repatriation.

Drone Attack Targets Turkish-Flagged Vessel in Odesa

An unmanned aerial vehicle hit a Turkish-flagged ship and set it ablaze in southern the Odesa area, authorities said. The incident took place just one day after the Ukrainian president signed a deal to bring in American LNG via the region. The vessel was hit while offloading LPG at Izmail port, as stated by Turkey's maritime authority. All 16 crew aboard evacuated and not a single person was injured.

Romania's Authorities Evacuate Villages After Drone Attack

Romanian officials said they had evacuated two communities close to the Ukraine frontier after the drone attack on the MT Orinda. After invading Ukraine in 2022, Moscow has consistently targeted Ukrainian ports in the Danube area, triggering warnings in adjacent Romania.

United States Leader Donald Trump Open to Approve Russian Sanctions Bill

The American leader Donald Trump is willing to approve legislation to impose sanctions on the Russian Federation, as long as he retains final authority power over these actions, an high-ranking U.S. administration official said. Trump informed journalists recently that it was “OK with me” that GOP members were drafting legislation to impose sanctions on nations doing business with Moscow over its failure to negotiate a peace deal with Ukraine.

Poland's Prime Minister Calls Rail Blast an “Never-Before-Seen Act of Disruption”

The Polish leader, Donald Tusk, has described an explosion along a section of rail track employed in deliveries to the country as an “unprecedented act of sabotage” that might have resulted in disaster. This statement coincided with a statement from legal authorities saying that an investigation had opened “regarding acts of sabotage of a terrorist kind […] carried out on orders of a external intelligence agency against the Republic of the country.”

China Premier Expresses Readiness to Deepen Cooperation with Russian Federation

The Chinese government is prepared to strengthen cooperation with the Russian Federation in the energy sector, farming and additional investments, Leader Li said during a meeting with Russian prime minister Mikhail Mishustin in Moscow. Li told Mishustin that the country is open to more agricultural and food-related products from the nation, as per a state-run media outlet. China also hopes that Moscow will facilitate for Chinese enterprises to invest and do business there, the report cited. Mishustin assured his counterpart that the cooperation between the both nations has repeatedly proven its resilience to external pressures.