Istanbul: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy is stepping up a fresh diplomatic effort to revive peace talks with Russia, with a planned visit to Turkey after holding discussions in Spain. The move comes as Ukraine looks for new ways to reduce the intensity of the long conflict while continuing to strengthen its military partnerships.

Zelenskiy said his talks in Spain were part of a wider plan to build support for Ukraine before heading to Turkey, where he hopes to create space for new negotiations. He said every meeting with international partners must bring practical results for the country and added that Ukraine has prepared proposals it wants to place on the table.

Turkey has played a role in earlier attempts to mediate between Kyiv and Moscow, including hosting grain export negotiations and earlier rounds of talks. Zelenskiys visit is expected to test whether Ankara can again help bring both sides closer to meaningful discussions.

The United States is also expected to be involved. A special envoy from Washington is likely to join the meetings in Turkey, signaling renewed American interest in pushing for progress.

While preparing for talks, Ukraine is also focusing on military strength. Kyiv recently signed a letter of intent with France to buy up to 100 Rafale fighter jets, SAMP T air defence systems and new drones over the next decade. Ukrainian officials see this as a long term step to secure the country even as diplomatic efforts continue.

Fighting on the ground, however, has not slowed. Russian missile and drone strikes continue to hit Ukrainian regions, and Ukrainian forces remain active along several fronts. The ongoing violence has made negotiations difficult, but Kyiv says it still wants to prioritise issues such as the return of prisoners of war and stronger security guarantees.

Zelenskiys visit to Turkey is expected to shape the next stage of diplomatic efforts. Whether it leads to formal talks or only early discussions will become clearer in the coming days as Ukraine tries to balance the pressure of war with the hope for progress at the negotiating table.