In the Azerbaijani capital of Baku, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy signed security and energy cooperation agreements with President Ilham Aliyev on Saturday, even as Russian strikes killed at least ten people across Ukraine, including eight in the eastern city of Dnipro.
The agreements, which Zelenskyy described as covering military-industrial cooperation, arrive as Kyiv seeks to leverage its battlefield experience in countering Russian drones and missiles — expertise now sought by multiple nations following recent U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran. Aliyev acknowledged the talks had covered joint defence production but did not confirm signing any specific deals, creating a discrepancy in how each side framed the outcome.
Zelenskyy also reiterated his openness to holding peace talks with Russia in Azerbaijan, stating Kyiv is ready for negotiations if Moscow demonstrates willingness to engage diplomatically. This comes amid renewed Russian bombardment across multiple Ukrainian regions, including a drone strike on a civilian minibus in Zaporizhzhia that killed one person and injured four, and attacks on Odesa that wounded two.
The violence extended beyond Ukraine’s borders when a Russian drone, launched during strikes on Ukrainian territory, crashed in the Romanian town of Galați near the Danube River. Though no one was hurt, the drone damaged an electricity pole and outbuilding, marking the first time debris from such strikes has caused material damage on NATO soil since Russia’s full-scale invasion began in February 2022.
Meanwhile, Russia continues to deepen its military ties with North Korea, as evidenced by the visit of Russian State Duma Speaker Vyacheslav Volodin to Pyongyang to commemorate the deployment of North Korean troops to support Moscow’s war effort. South Korean, Ukrainian, and Western officials estimate more than 6,000 of the approximately 14,000 North Korean soldiers sent to fight alongside Russian forces have been killed.
For more on this story, see Ukraine Secures Air Defense Deals with Gulf States Amid War.
In Crimea, Ukrainian forces claimed a drone strike on Sevastopol killed one person and injured three, though Russian-installed officials confirmed the casualty. The strike occurred amid broader Russian aerial activity, during which Ukrainian defences reportedly shot down 43 unmanned aerial vehicles.
Zelenskyy’s visit to Azerbaijan marks his first to the South Caucasus since the full-scale invasion began, a symbolic shift as he seeks alternative venues for diplomacy after the U.S. Shifted focus from mediating Ukraine-Russia talks to addressing the Iran crisis. Previously, such talks had been held in Turkey and Switzerland.
Aliyev emphasized Azerbaijan’s consistent support for territorial integrity, recalling his own visit to Kyiv in January 2022, just days before Russia’s invasion. He noted that Azerbaijani state oil company SOCAR has operated in Ukraine for years and highlighted ongoing joint energy projects, while stressing the need to expand bilateral trade.
The convergence of diplomatic overtures and ongoing violence underscores the complex balancing act Ukraine faces: pursuing peace initiatives while defending against relentless attacks and strengthening international partnerships to sustain its resistance.
Why is Azerbaijan being proposed as a venue for Ukraine-Russia talks?
Zelenskyy has proposed Azerbaijan as a neutral venue for talks, noting that Kyiv has already held discussions in Turkey and Switzerland and is ready to engage if Russia shows willingness to negotiate diplomatically.
What specific agreements were signed between Ukraine and Azerbaijan during Zelenskyy’s visit?
The leaders discussed and agreed upon cooperation in defence-industrial production and energy, with Zelenskyy confirming that relevant documents were signed, though Aliyev did not confirm signing any specific deals.
How has the war affected regions beyond Ukraine’s borders?
Russian drone strikes have repeatedly violated Romanian airspace, with the Galați incident marking the first time debris caused material damage on NATO soil, prompting Romania to summon the Russian ambassador and cut gas supplies as a precaution.
