Ukrainian President, Volodymyr Zelenskyy has announced that he will be in Turkey tomorrow, Wednesday, November 19, 2025, in an attempt to revive negotiations on ending Russia’s full-scale invasion.
Zelenskyy said on social media, without providing details, “We are preparing to reinvigorate negotiations, and we have developed solutions that we will propose to our partners.” He added, “Doing everything possible to bring the end of the war closer is Ukraine’s top priority.”
Burhanettin Duran, Turkey’s Head of presidential communications, said on the social platform X that the talks will be held in Ankara and will center on how to establish a ceasefire and a lasting settlement, as well as Ukraine-Turkey relations.
Turkey provided a setting for low-level talks between Ukraine and Russia earlier this year, though the only significant progress in Istanbul was on exchanging prisoners of war. US-led international peace efforts have brought no breakthrough, either.
Trump has expressed frustration with Russian President Vladimir Putin’s refusal to budge from his demands for putting an end to the war.
Heavy new American sanctions on Russia’s all-important oil industry, devised to push Putin to the negotiating table, are due to take effect on Friday.
The sanctions against oil companies Rosneft and Lukoil seek to starve Putin’s war machine of cash and halt its grinding war of attrition, which has claimed tens of thousands of lives in Ukraine.
Washington’s sanctions also carry the threat of secondary penalties against anyone violating them, raising the stakes for Putin. China and India are major importers of Russian oil.
Meanwhile, Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov said during his daily conference call with reporters that “there will be no Russian representative in Turkey” on Wednesday, although he insisted that Moscow is ready to negotiate.
“For now, these contacts are taking place without Russian participation. We will await information on what would actually be discussed in Istanbul.”
Dmitry Peskov
Ukrainian forces, despite being heavily outnumbered, are fighting hard to prevent Russia’s army from capturing any more of Donetsk.
Ukraine launched a surprise aerial attack on energy infrastructure in occupied parts of its eastern Donetsk region. This morning, the Russian-appointed Head of the partially occupied region, Denis Pushilin, reported an “unprecedented” Ukrainian attack that damaged two thermal power stations and left many areas without power.
A day earlier, Pushilin also reported Ukrainian drones attacking energy infrastructure in the region, denying power to around 500,000 consumers. The occupied part of the region has also endured water shortages.
Zelenskyy’s Turkey Trip Follows One To Spain
Zelenskyy’s trip to Turkey comes a day after visiting Spain where he hoped for pledges of new support.
Zelenskyy arrived in Madrid today in a bid to rally more support for his country amid the war with Russia.
“Today, I am holding meetings in Spain that we have been preparing for quite some time. We expect that another strong country will increase its support – helping us protect lives and bring the end of the war closer.”
Volodymyr Zelenskyy
By midday, Zelenskyy had visited Spain’s parliament and met with Defense Minister Margarita Robles as well as senior executives from defense companies. He is later scheduled to meet King Felipe VI and Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez.
“I will speak with Prime Minister Sanchez about how to strengthen our defense and our industries – both Ukraine’s and Spain’s. The more bilateral ties we build with countries of the European Union, the more integrated we become with Europe.”
Volodymyr Zelenskyy
This marks Zelenskyy’s third visit to Spain, a country that has consistently backed Ukraine since the start of the war.
Zelenskyy’s stop in Madrid follows recent trips to Athens, where he signed a gas-import agreement, and Paris, where he secured a deal to acquire 100 French-made Rafale fighter jets.
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