Ukraine has requested Turkey to host a potential meeting between President Volodymyr Zelenskiy and Russian President Vladimir Putin, as Kyiv intensifies diplomatic efforts to revive stalled peace negotiations in the ongoing war.
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Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha told reporters that Kyiv had also reached out to other international capitals, seeking a neutral venue for high-level talks aimed at ending more than four years of conflict.
He said Ukraine remains open to holding such a meeting anywhere except Russia or Belarus, stressing that both locations are unacceptable for President Zelenskiy. Belarus has remained a close ally of Moscow and played a role in facilitating Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine.
According to Sybiha, Ukraine formally approached Ankara regarding the proposal, although he did not disclose Turkey’s response. He added that Kyiv would consider any neutral country willing to host the leaders’ meeting.
Turkey has previously played a mediating role in the Russia-Ukraine conflict and hosted earlier rounds of negotiations between the two sides, making it a potential candidate for renewed diplomatic engagement.
The Kremlin has previously indicated it would be willing to host talks in Moscow, a proposal Kyiv has rejected. Zelenskiy has repeatedly stated he will not travel to Russia for negotiations.
Despite ongoing diplomatic outreach, major differences remain between the two sides over territory, security guarantees, and conditions for a ceasefire, keeping the prospects of a breakthrough uncertain.
Separately, Sybiha also confirmed he had exchanged written communications with Hungary’s incoming foreign minister Anita Orban ahead of the new government taking office following recent elections.
