Ukraine Readies New Peace Overture While Kremlin Bows Out of Istanbul Talks

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Thursday he will travel to Turkey on Friday for meetings aimed at reviving stalled negotiations to end the war, signaling that Kyiv intends to put fresh proposals on the table for international partners.

Speaking during a visit to Spain, Zelenskyy said Ukraine had “developed solutions” it plans to present in upcoming discussions. He emphasized that accelerating a path to peace remains his government’s “top priority,” and said he also hopes to restart prisoner-exchange talks with Moscow.

A Turkish source told Reuters that Steve Witkoff — the U.S. special envoy appointed by former President Donald Trump — will join the talks in Istanbul. Witkoff has been central to Washington’s recent diplomatic push, holding several meetings with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow and helping to broker last year’s ceasefire between Israel and Hamas.

The Kremlin confirmed Thursday that Russia will not participate in the Istanbul discussions. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said President Vladimir Putin remains open to hearing the outcome of the talks through the United States and Turkey. Peskov also criticized a new French aviation deal that will see Ukraine purchase 100 Rafale fighter jets, calling the agreement “regrettable” and saying it “does not contribute to peace.”

On the battlefield, Russia’s Defense Ministry claimed its forces had seized at least five settlements across the Zaporizhzhia, Dnipropetrovsk, Donetsk and Kharkiv regions. One prominent pro-Russian military blogger publicly questioned one of those claims, underscoring the uncertainty surrounding frontline developments.