🔗 Share this article Ukraine Signs Major Agreement for French Rafale Jets, Drones and Air Defense Equipment Through a major step to bolster its future defense, the Ukrainian government has signed a letter of intent to purchase as many as 100 Rafale fighter jets, drones, air defence systems and additional essential gear from the French Republic. The agreement was formalized by Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy and France's leader Emmanuel Macron during a shared press briefing at the Elysée palace. The Ukrainian leader referred to the pact as “a historic agreement.” Against Their Will Deported Children: Relatives Cut Off Communication A number of families of Ukrainian children who were taken against their will to the Russian Federation have raised concerns about their well-being, reporting that all contact has been severed. At a uncommon news conference in the French capital, a legal guardian, who cares for two minors taken after Moscow's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in recent years, stated that officials in Russia are disregarding all requests to help with the children's repatriation. Unmanned Aerial Strike Targets Turkish-Flagged Tanker in Southern Ukraine An unmanned aerial vehicle struck a Turkey-registered ship and caused a fire in southern Ukraine's Odesa region, officials reported. The incident took place just a day after Zelenskyy approved a deal to bring in US LNG through the region. The MT Orinda was struck while offloading LPG at Izmail port, as stated by Turkey's Directorate for Maritime Affairs. Every one of the 16 crew members on board were safely removed and no one was hurt. Romanian Officials Evacuate Communities Following Aerial Attack Romanian officials announced they had evacuated two villages close to the Ukrainian border after the drone attack on the tanker. After invading Ukraine in recent years, Russian forces has consistently targeted Ukraine's harbors in the Danube region, triggering alerts in adjacent Romania. United States Leader Donald Trump Open to Approve Russia Sanctions Bill US president Donald Trump is prepared to approve a bill to impose penalties on Russia, as long as he keeps ultimate authority authority over these actions, an high-ranking U.S. administration official stated. Trump told reporters recently that it was “OK with me” that Republicans were working on a bill to impose sanctions on countries engaging commercially with Russia over its failure to reach a ceasefire agreement with Ukraine. Polish Prime Minister Describes Railway Explosion an “Unprecedented Act of Sabotage” Poland's prime minister, Tusk, has described an blast along a part of rail track employed in shipments to Ukraine as an “unprecedented act of disruption” that might have resulted in disaster. This statement coincided with a announcement from public prosecutors indicating that an inquiry had been initiated “regarding acts of sabotage of a terror-related kind […] committed on behalf of a external intelligence agency against the nation of the country.” China Leader Expresses Readiness to Deepen Partnership with Russian Federation The Chinese government is prepared to strengthen cooperation with the Russian Federation in energy, farming and additional financial ventures, Premier Li said during a discussion with Russian prime minister Mikhail Mishustin in the Russian capital. The Chinese premier told his counterpart that China is open to more agricultural and food-related products from Russia, as per a state-run news agency. China also desires that Russia will facilitate for companies from China to invest and do business in Russia, the source mentioned. Mishustin told Li that the partnership between the both nations has repeatedly demonstrated its resilience to outside challenges.