President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine announced plans to travel to Turkey on Wednesday in a bid to revive peace talks with Russia, which have been at a standstill since the summer. This initiative comes as both Ukrainian and Russian officials have not engaged in direct negotiations for several months. The conflict has reached a deadlock following the last discussions, which involved former President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin in August. Notably, Mr. Trump recently canceled a meeting in Budapest, citing a lack of willingness from Putin to make meaningful progress towards ending the war.
“We are preparing to reinvigorate negotiations, and we have developed solutions that we will propose to our partners,” Zelensky shared on social media during his visit to Spain. He emphasized that Ukraine’s primary objective is to bring the end of the war closer through these renewed efforts.
Meanwhile, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitri S. Peskov indicated that Russian representatives would not attend the forthcoming talks, yet maintained that Russia remains open to the negotiation process. This ongoing diplomatic engagement underscores the complexities of resolving the conflict, but also reflects a continued hope for dialogue between the involved nations. Despite the challenges, Zelensky’s commitment to pursuing peace highlights Ukraine’s resolve to seek an end to hostilities.