Ukraine signals readiness for peace talks with Russia in Azerbaijan as strikes continue
President Zelenskyy's announcement coincides with his visit to finalise defence and energy agreements, even as Russian attacks kill at least seven people in Ukraine and cause property damage in Romania.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has declared his country's readiness to hold peace talks with Russia in Azerbaijan. The announcement was made on Saturday following a bilateral meeting between President Zelenskyy and his Azerbaijani counterpart, Ilham Aliyev. While specific details regarding the location and timing of the proposed discussions remain unconfirmed, Kyiv has stated it is prepared to engage in dialogue within the host nation.
This diplomatic initiative occurs concurrently with President Zelenskyy's visit to Baku to finalise agreements on defence and energy cooperation. His itinerary in Azerbaijan follows a separate trip to Saudi Arabia, where he met with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to discuss air defence cooperation and joint military production. Prior to arriving in Azerbaijan, the President noted on social media that he had consulted with a Ukrainian expert team regarding air defence strategies to protect the skies from Russian drones and missiles.
The diplomatic overture stands in stark contrast to the ongoing military pressure on Ukrainian soil. Overnight Russian drone and missile attacks across the country have resulted in significant civilian casualties. Local authorities in Dnipro reported that at least five people were killed and 27 others wounded, with regional head Oleksandr Ganzha confirming bodies were found in the ruins of a destroyed house. A subsequent strike on another apartment building in the city killed one person and wounded seven more.
Further south, the Zaporizhzhia region also suffered during the night. A Russian drone struck a civilian minibus, an incident that left one person dead and four others injured, according to regional administration head Ivan Fedorov. In the Odesa region, attacks targeted residential buildings, port infrastructure, and vehicles. Regional head Oleh Kiper confirmed that two people were wounded in the southwestern area, though the full extent of the damage to infrastructure and property continues to be assessed.
The conflict's reach has extended beyond Ukraine's borders, prompting a diplomatic response from a NATO member state. A Russian drone crashed in the Romanian town of Galati, causing material damage to an electricity pole and a house outbuilding. This marks the first instance where drone debris has caused physical damage on Romanian soil, although no casualties were reported. Emergency services noted the presence of a possible explosive charge, leading to precautionary cuts in gas supplies for the area.
In response to the incident in Galati, Romanian Foreign Minister Oana Toiu summoned the Russian ambassador to discuss the airspace violation. Since the invasion began in February 2022, Romania has repeatedly experienced airspace breaches and recovered drone fragments, but this event represents a tangible escalation in the impact of Russian operations on neighbouring territory.
