Zelensky to visit Turkey eyeing renewed Russian talks
by Chris Benson · UPINov. 18 (UPI) -- Ukrainian President Volodymr Zelensky will be in Turkey this week with hopes to restart talks with Russia, he announced Tuesday.
The Ukrainian leader, currently on a diplomatic trip to Spain, said he will travel Wednesday to Turkey in order to reignite diplomatic talks with Russian intermediaries, according to the Kyiv Independent.
"We are preparing to reinvigorate negotiations, and we have developed solutions that we will propose to our partners," said Zelensky.
Negotiations broke down a few months ago after the last known direct meeting between Russia and Ukraine, with no progress in ending Russia's full-scale war in its neighboring country.
Zelensky added that doing "everything possible" to end the war sooner was Ukraine's "top priority."
U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff will be in Turkey and may join talks with Zelensky.
Meanwhile, the Kremlin said Russia will not be present but "for now" the conference will take place "without Russian participation."
"We will wait for information about what will actually be discussed in Istanbul," said Russian spokesman Dmitry Peskov.
But Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan reportedly may act as a go-between to communicate the outcome to Russian officials.
In addition, Zelensky said a priority is to revive a prisoner of war exchange to return home more than 2,500 Ukrainian solders captured by Russia.