Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy traveled to Azerbaijan on Friday to discuss matters related to security and energy, according to a high-ranking Ukrainian official who spoke to AFP. Relations between Kyiv and Baku remain positive, with Azerbaijan consistently affirming support for Ukraine’s sovereignty and providing humanitarian assistance since Russia’s 2022 invasion. Connections between Moscow and Baku have deteriorated in the last year, particularly after a Russian air defense system accidentally downed an Azerbaijani civilian aircraft in 2024, resulting in 38 fatalities. This visit came after a meeting in Saudi Arabia with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, as Zelenskyy aims to offer Ukraine’s drone technology to Gulf nations impacted by the conflict involving Iran. Zelenskyy noted that Ukraine is advancing its strategic security partnerships in three main sectors: sharing military knowledge and air defense systems, collaborating on energy to support Ukraine, and ensuring food stability. Deliveries of American arms to Ukraine have continued uninterrupted despite the situation in Iran, and Ukrainian forces persist in targeting Russian oil facilities and industrial sites with long-range operations, Zelenskyy stated on Thursday. ‘We are striking targets that significantly affect Russia, causing substantial harm,’ Zelenskyy told journalists via audio messages, estimating Russian damages from these actions at tens of billions of dollars. Russian authorities have confirmed strikes on facilities over 1,000 kilometers (600 miles) within their territory. On Friday, Russia and Ukraine each released 193 prisoners of war, marking the second such exchange this month and one of the rare instances of collaboration between the two capitals. Throughout the four-year conflict, the nations have repatriated thousands of captives, often as the sole outcome of otherwise halted negotiations. Images from the exchange site in northern Ukraine depicted returning Ukrainian soldiers appearing weary yet joyful, draped in national colors, hugging comrades, or emotional during calls to family. Ukraine’s defense ministry dismissed a senior officer following the circulation of photographs showing severely undernourished troops who had been stationed at the front lines for extended periods without adequate provisions. The controversy began when a soldier’s spouse shared the pictures online, revealing the men’s gaunt appearances with visible bones and slender limbs. Military leadership announced the replacement of the officer in charge of supplies for the unit. The brigade cited challenges in logistics, explaining that resupplies could only occur via air drops due to the position’s proximity to opposing forces. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz stated on Friday that Ukraine’s full entry into the European Union is not imminent, though he proposed allowing Kyiv to participate in EU gatherings without voting privileges. Ukraine is advocating for accelerated membership in the 27-member bloc amid its defense against Russian aggression. Progress has been hindered by Hungary’s leader Viktor Orbán, but his recent electoral loss has sparked optimism for advancement. German authorities initiated an inquiry on Friday into espionage involving phishing attempts on parliament members via the Signal app, with one lawmaker describing the suspected Russian-linked scheme as an alert for Germany. As Ukraine’s primary supplier of military support, Germany has faced increased cyber threats, spying, and sabotage since Russia’s large-scale assault on Ukraine in 2022. Moscow rejects any involvement in these incidents.
