🔗 Share this article

Through a major step to strengthen its long-term security, the Ukrainian government has finalized a preliminary agreement to purchase as many as 100 Rafale fighter jets, unmanned aerial vehicles, air defence systems and additional key equipment from the French Republic. The agreement was formalized by Ukraine's leader Volodymyr Zelenskyy and France's leader Macron during a joint press briefing at the Elysée presidential palace. The Ukrainian leader referred to the pact as “a historic deal.”

Forcibly Deported Children: Families Lose Communication

A number of families of Ukraine's minors who were forcibly deported to the Russian Federation have raised concerns about their well-being, stating that every line of communication has been cut off. During a rare news conference in Paris, Darina Repina, who is responsible for two minors removed after Moscow's full-scale military action of Ukraine in recent years, said that Russian authorities are ignoring every appeal to help with the minors' return.

Drone Attack Targets Turkish-Flagged Tanker in Southern Ukraine

An unmanned aerial vehicle hit a Turkey-registered tanker and set it ablaze in southern Ukraine's Odesa area, officials said. This event occurred just one day after the Ukrainian president approved a deal to import American liquefied natural gas through the area. The vessel was hit while unloading liquefied petroleum gas at Izmail port, as stated by Turkey's Directorate for Maritime Affairs. Every one of the 16 crew aboard were safely removed and not a single person was injured.

Romania's Officials Relocate Communities Following Aerial Attack

Romanian authorities said they had evacuated two communities close to the Ukrainian frontier after the drone attack on the tanker. Since entering Ukraine in recent years, Moscow has repeatedly targeted Ukrainian ports in the Danube area, causing alerts in neighbouring Romania.

US Leader Trump Willing to Approve Russian Sanctions Bill

The American leader Donald Trump is willing to approve a bill to enact sanctions on the Russian Federation, provided that he keeps ultimate authority power over these actions, a senior U.S. administration official said. Trump informed reporters late on Sunday that it was “acceptable to me” that GOP members were drafting legislation to apply sanctions on countries engaging commercially with Moscow over its failure to reach a peace deal with the Ukrainian government.

Polish Leader Calls Railway Blast an “Unprecedented Case of Disruption”

The Polish prime minister, Donald Tusk, has described an explosion along a part of railway line used for deliveries to the country as an “unprecedented instance of sabotage” that could have led to catastrophe. This statement coincided with a statement from legal authorities saying that an investigation had opened “regarding acts of sabotage of a terrorist nature […] carried out on orders of a external intelligence agency against the nation of the country.”

Chinese Leader Shows Readiness to Expand Partnership with Russian Federation

The Chinese government is prepared to strengthen collaboration with the Russian Federation in energy, farming and other investments, Leader Li Qiang stated during a meeting with Russian prime minister Mishustin in Moscow. Li informed his counterpart that the country is open to more agricultural and food products from Russia, according to a state-run media outlet. The Chinese side also desires that Russia will make it easier for Chinese enterprises to invest and operate there, the source cited. The Russian leader told Li that the partnership between the two sides has consistently proven its resilience to external challenges.