Zelenskyy Suggests Peace Talks in Azerbaijan as Russian Attacks Continue and Drone Hits Romania

Apr 25, 2026, 10:58

Introduction

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has announced that his government is ready to hold peace talks with Russia in Azerbaijan. He made this statement during an official visit to the country. However, at the same time, Russia continued its drone and missile strikes on several Ukrainian cities, causing many deaths. Furthermore, a drone crashed in Romania, marking the first time the conflict has caused material damage in the neighboring NATO country.

Main Body

During his trip to Baku, President Zelenskyy met with Azerbaijan’s leader, Ilham Aliyev, and stated that Ukraine is prepared to negotiate with Russia in that country. This visit is significant because it is his first trip to the region since the full-scale war began in 2022. Before arriving in Azerbaijan, the President also visited Saudi Arabia to discuss the situation with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. In Azerbaijan, he focused on strengthening cooperation in the energy and defense sectors. Furthermore, he met with a team of experts to discuss how to better defend against Russian drone and missile attacks. At the same time, Russian forces launched several violent strikes across Ukraine. In the city of Dnipro, officials reported that a missile destroyed a home, killing four people and injuring 27 others. Another strike on an apartment building caused further casualties. In the south, a Russian drone hit a civilian bus in the Zaporizhzhia region, resulting in one death. Additionally, the Odesa region faced overnight strikes that damaged port facilities and residential buildings. Local leaders criticized these actions, noting that the attacks continue to target innocent civilians and essential infrastructure. The conflict also affected Romania, a member of NATO, when a drone crashed in the town of Galați. Although no one was hurt, the explosion damaged a house and an electricity pole. This is the first time that Russian drone debris has caused material damage on Romanian soil, although there have been previous violations of their airspace. As a result, the Romanian government expressed its concern and summoned the Russian ambassador to explain the incident. This event highlights how the war is increasingly affecting countries beyond Ukraine's borders.

Conclusion

These events show two very different situations. While Ukraine is signaling a willingness to talk in Azerbaijan, the ongoing military strikes and the incident in Romania show that the situation remains extremely dangerous. The proposal for negotiations offers some hope for a diplomatic solution, but the continued violence and the impact on NATO territory demonstrate that the war is far from over.

Vocabulary Learning

casualty (n.)
victim / a person injured or killed in a serious accident or war傷亡人員；受害者
Example:The military reported that there were no civilian casualties during the operation.
infrastructure (n.)
basic systems / the basic structures and facilities needed for the operation of a society基礎建設；基礎設施
Example:The government is investing billions to improve the city's aging infrastructure.
negotiate (v.)
discuss terms / to have formal discussions with someone to reach an agreement談判；協商
Example:The company is currently trying to negotiate a new contract with its suppliers.
significant (adj.)
important / noticeable or having a special meaning顯著的；重要的
Example:The new trade agreement will have a significant impact on the local economy.
summon (v.)
call for / to officially order someone to come to a place傳喚；召見
Example:The foreign ministry decided to summon the ambassador to protest the border violation.

Sentence Learning

Furthermore, a drone crashed in Romania, marking the first time the conflict has caused material damage in the neighboring NATO country.
Participle Clause: This clause uses the "-ing" form to describe a result or consequence of the main action.分詞句: 此子句使用「-ing」形式來描述主句動作的結果或影響。
Additionally, the Odesa region faced overnight strikes that damaged port facilities and residential buildings.
Relative Clause: The relative pronoun "that" introduces a clause that provides essential information about the "strikes."關係子句: 關係代名詞「that」引導一個子句，為「空襲」提供必要的資訊。
Although no one was hurt, the explosion damaged a house and an electricity pole.
Passive Voice & Concession: "Although" shows contrast, while "was hurt" uses the passive voice to focus on the person affected.被動語態與讓步子句: 「Although」表示對比，而「was hurt」則使用被動語態，將焦點放在受影響的人身上。
As a result, the Romanian government expressed its concern and summoned the Russian ambassador to explain the incident.
Linking Word - Cause and Effect: "As a result" is a transition phrase used to show the logical consequence of a previous event.因果連接詞: 「As a result」是一個轉折短語，用於顯示前一事件的邏輯結果。
While Ukraine is signaling a willingness to talk in Azerbaijan, the ongoing military strikes and the incident in Romania show that the situation remains extremely dangerous.
Contrast with "While": This structure compares two different situations occurring simultaneously to highlight a contradiction.以「While」表示對比: 此結構比較同時發生的兩種不同情況，以突出其中的矛盾之處。