US special envoy Steve Witkoff is set to join talks with Ukraine's Volodymyr Zelensky and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Ankara on Wednesday, as the Ukrainian president said he wanted to 'intensify' peace negotiations.
'Bringing the end of the war closer with all our might is Ukraine's top priority,' Zelensky said, adding that efforts would also focus on resuming prisoner exchanges.
Turkey has maintained ties with both Kyiv and Moscow and has previously hosted talks between the two factions.
However, no Russian representative is expected to attend the Ankara meeting, according to Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov.
Peskov indicated that while there were 'no concrete plans' for President Vladimir Putin to speak with either the Turkish side or Witkoff, the Russian president remains 'open to a conversation.'
Ankara will mark the fourth capital Zelensky visits within a series of diplomatic engagements. In Athens, he secured a gas deal; in Paris, he signed an agreement for up to 100 fighter jets; and in Madrid, he discussed cooperation with Spanish arms manufacturers.
These visits are part of Zelensky's strategy to bolster European support as Russian attacks on Ukraine escalate and as Moscow's forces close in on the critical eastern city of Pokrovsk.
Domestically, Zelensky faces severe challenges as corruption accusations circulate against members of his inner circle, with two ministers resigning amid investigations. This scandal threatens to extend, leading EU leaders to call for urgent action to combat corruption as they prepare to make decisions on a significant financial aid package for Ukraine.
As the fourth anniversary of Russia's full-scale invasion in February 2022 approaches, the gulf remains vast between Moscow and Kyiv regarding peace negotiations. Russia's conditions for peace, articulated by Lavrov, appear unchanged since 2024, where Ukraine is required to renounce NATO aspirations and withdraw from several contested regions.
Zelensky maintains that conceding territory would expose Ukraine to future aggression.
In previous discussions with Witkoff, there were indications that any potential peace agreement would hinge significantly on the status of disputed regions and Crimea, a point that has generated friction between Ukrainian and American officials.
The two leaders have not convened since early September, amid stalled American initiatives to establish a ceasefire.
While a recent potential summit between Trump and Putin was scrapped due to unyielding Russian demands, behind-the-scenes discussions continue. Putin's special envoy reportedly met with Witkoff in Washington just prior to new sanctions imposed on Russian oil corporations.
