Russia, Ukraine, and NATO News

May 16, 2026, 14:03
AfricaInternational

Introduction

President Zelenskyy says Russia has a plan to attack NATO countries. He talked with President Macron about help for Ukraine.

Main Body

President Zelenskyy says Russia wants to attack NATO countries. Russia might use Belarus to start the attack. Lithuania and Latvia are now protecting their borders more. Ukraine attacked Russian factories. They hit a chemical plant and a plastics warehouse. Russia attacked houses and ports in Odessa. President Zelenskyy and President Macron talked on the phone. France wants to help Ukraine with better missiles. They also talked about Ukraine joining Europe.

Conclusion

Ukraine is careful about Russia and Belarus. France will help Ukraine with defense.

Learning

🎯 Focus: Action Words (Verbs)

In this news story, we see how people and countries do things. For A2 level, you must recognize these basic actions.

The 'Talking' Pattern When people share information, we use these words:

  • Says → used for a statement. (Zelenskyy says...)
  • Talked → used for a conversation. (They talked on the phone.)

The 'Attack' Pattern When describing a fight, we see:

  • Attack (Action) → Russia wants to attack.
  • Hit (Result) → They hit a chemical plant.

The 'Help' Pattern When one person gives support:

  • Protecting → making something safe. (Protecting their borders.)
  • Help → giving what is needed. (France wants to help.)

💡 Quick Tip: Notice that "Talked" and "Hit" are in the past. They already happened. "Says" and "Wants" are happening now or are general facts.

Vocabulary Learning

attack (v.)
to try to destroy or damage by force
Example:The army will attack the enemy base tomorrow.
countries (n.)
plural of country, a nation with its own government
Example:Many countries signed the new treaty.
talked (v.)
past tense of talk, to speak or communicate
Example:They talked about plans for the future.
help (v.)
to give assistance or support
Example:Can you help me carry these boxes?
Ukraine (n.)
a country in Eastern Europe
Example:Ukraine is known for its beautiful landscapes.
Russia (n.)
a country that spans Europe and Asia
Example:Russia has a large population and many cities.
Belarus (n.)
a country in Eastern Europe, neighboring Russia
Example:Belarus shares a border with Russia.
start (v.)
to begin or commence something
Example:We will start the meeting at nine o’clock.
protecting (v.)
present participle of protect, keeping safe from harm
Example:They are protecting the wildlife in the forest.
borders (n.)
plural of border, the edges of a country
Example:The borders between the two countries were closed.
factories (n.)
plural of factory, a building where goods are made
Example:The factories produce cars and electronics.
chemical (adj.)
relating to chemicals or substances
Example:The lab handled many chemical experiments.
plant (n.)
a factory that makes goods or a living organism
Example:The plant uses solar energy to power its machines.
plastics (n.)
plural of plastic, a synthetic material
Example:Many products are made from plastics.
warehouse (n.)
a large building for storing goods
Example:The warehouse holds all the seasonal inventory.
houses (n.)
plural of house, a building for living
Example:The houses on the street are all painted blue.
ports (n.)
plural of port, places where ships dock
Example:The ports handle both cargo and passenger ships.
phone (n.)
a device used for making calls
Example:She answered the phone quickly.
France (n.)
a country in Western Europe
Example:France is famous for its cuisine and art.
missiles (n.)
plural of missile, a weapon that flies toward a target
Example:The defense system can intercept incoming missiles.
join (v.)
to become a member of a group or organization
Example:He decided to join the local soccer club.
Europe (n.)
a continent that includes many countries
Example:Europe has a rich history and diverse cultures.
careful (adj.)
cautious and attentive to avoid mistakes
Example:She was careful when handling the fragile vase.
defense (n.)
the protection against attack or danger
Example:The army strengthened its defense along the border.