Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is traveling to Turkiye in an effort to revive stalled peace negotiations aimed at ending the ongoing war triggered by Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. This visit underscores Ukraine’s intensified diplomatic efforts to secure military and political support from Western allies as winter approaches.

Goals of the Turkiye Trip

Zelenskyy emphasized on social media that Ukraine is “preparing to reinvigorate negotiations” and has developed proposals that he intends to present to international partners. While he did not disclose the specifics of the agenda, reports indicate meetings with US special envoy Steve Witkoff and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Ankara.

A senior Ukrainian official told AFP that Zelenskyy’s “main goal is for the Americans to re-engage” in peace efforts, reflecting Ukraine’s focus on securing US backing for renewed ceasefire talks.

Russia’s Position

The Kremlin confirmed that no Russian representatives will participate in the discussions on November 19, although President Vladimir Putin remains open to receiving updates on the outcomes from the US and Turkiye. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said, “For now, these contacts are taking place without Russian participation. We will await information on what would actually be discussed in Istanbul.”

Past Peace Talks and Progress

Ukraine and Russia have previously held multiple rounds of talks in Istanbul, mediated by the US and Turkiye, with the last face-to-face meeting in July 2025. These earlier discussions achieved limited progress, though they facilitated prisoner exchanges and repatriation of bodies.

Zelenskyy highlighted in his social media note the importance of resuming POW exchanges to bring home Ukrainian prisoners. This continues to be a top priority for Kyiv in parallel with military and diplomatic initiatives.

Diplomatic Tour Across Europe

The Turkiye visit follows a short tour of key European allies, aimed at securing support and military aid. Earlier this week, Zelenskyy met with Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez in Madrid and French President Emmanuel Macron in Paris, signing an agreement to receive up to 100 fighter jets, drones, and other military hardware to strengthen Ukraine’s air defense capabilities against concentrated Russian attacks.

The French government’s arms package is intended to help Ukraine defend its critical infrastructure, particularly energy systems, during the harsh winter months. Peskov criticized the deal, stating that Paris “is in no way contributing to peace, but rather fuelling militaristic and pro-war sentiment.”

Recent Military Escalations

Military activity on both sides continues amid diplomatic efforts:

• Ukraine targeted power stations in Russian-occupied Donetsk, leaving many areas without electricity.
• Russian drone attacks caused fires in the central city of Dnipro, and a missile strike on Berestyn in Kharkiv killed a 17-year-old girl and wounded ten others.

Zelenskyy’s dual approach—seeking international support while maintaining pressure on the battlefield—illustrates Ukraine’s strategy to leverage diplomacy alongside military operations.

Significance of the Turkiye Talks

The visit marks a renewed attempt to re-engage the US and other international partners in brokering peace and demonstrates Zelenskyy’s proactive diplomacy to ensure Ukraine’s security and sovereignty. Success in Turkiye could revive momentum for broader Ukraine-Russia peace negotiations and lay the groundwork for future discussions involving prisoner exchanges, humanitarian aid, and potential ceasefire agreements.