Zelensky to travel to Turkey to resume peace talks with Russia

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky will travel to Turkey on Wednesday in an effort to restart negotiations with Russia aimed at ending the war, following months of diplomatic stagnation.

The visit comes at a critical moment for Ukraine, as Kyiv seeks new diplomatic channels to advance toward a possible negotiated solution. The U.S. special envoy, Steve Witkoff, will also take part in the talks, signaling a more direct involvement by Washington in the process.

“We are preparing solutions to present to our partners. Doing everything possible to bring the war closer to an end is Ukraine’s highest priority,” Zelensky said during a visit to Spain.

The last face-to-face meetings between Kyiv and Moscow were held in Istanbul in July and resulted in the exchange of thousands of prisoners of war. Despite this progress, no breakthrough was reached on a ceasefire or a broader peace agreement.

Zelensky also noted that Ukraine is working to restore prisoner-exchange mechanisms, a step seen as essential for rebuilding trust between the parties.

Turkey, which has served as a mediator in previous rounds of negotiations, is once again positioned to play a central role as efforts intensify to reopen a diplomatic channel in a conflict now nearing its fourth year.