Zelenskyy Seeks to Revive Peace Talks in Türkiye Amid Ongoing Conflict

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has announced plans to visit Türkiye on Wednesday, aiming to rejuvenate peace negotiations to end the ongoing conflict initiated by Russia's invasion in 2022.

During his European tour, Zelenskyy stated that Ukraine is "preparing to reinvigorate negotiations" and has developed solutions to propose to partners.

While specific details of the trip remain undisclosed, reports indicate that Zelenskyy is expected to meet with U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Ankara.

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov confirmed that no Russian representatives will attend the talks on November 19. However, President Vladimir Putin remains open to discussions with the U.S. and Türkiye regarding the outcomes of the meetings.

A senior Ukrainian official emphasized that Zelenskyy's primary objective is to encourage renewed U.S. engagement in peace efforts.

Ukraine and Russia have previously conducted several rounds of talks in Istanbul, mediated by the U.S. and Türkiye, but face-to-face negotiations have not occurred since July.

Zelenskyy's social media post also highlighted efforts to restore prisoner-of-war exchanges and repatriate Ukrainian captives.

The Ukrainian president made this announcement while in Spain, where he discussed support with Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez.

Zelenskyy's tour includes visits to key allies to secure additional air defenses against intensified Russian attacks on Ukraine's energy infrastructure as winter approaches.

On Monday, he met with French President Emmanuel Macron to sign an accord allowing Ukraine to acquire up to 100 fighter jets and other military equipment, including drones.

In response, Peskov stated that Paris is "in no way contributing to peace, but rather fueling militaristic and pro-war sentiment."

Meanwhile, Ukrainian forces have targeted Russia's oil industry and energy systems. On Tuesday, Ukraine launched an aerial attack on power stations in the Russian-occupied Donetsk region, resulting in widespread power outages, according to Russian-appointed officials.

Russian drone attacks overnight caused multiple fires in the central Ukrainian city of Dnipro. Additionally, a 17-year-old girl was killed, and ten others were wounded in a Russian missile strike on the town of Berestyn in the northeastern Kharkiv region.