Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced on Tuesday his upcoming visit to Turkey, aiming to reignite negotiations to end Russia’s nearly four-year-long invasion of Ukraine. This diplomatic effort follows earlier low-level talks between Ukraine and Russia in Istanbul, which primarily focused on prisoner exchanges but failed to achieve broader progress. International peace initiatives, led by the U.S., have also yet to yield significant breakthroughs. Zelenskyy’s visit to Turkey on Wednesday comes after his stop in Spain, where he sought additional support for Ukraine’s defense efforts. In a social media post, Zelenskyy emphasized Ukraine’s commitment to accelerating the end of the war, stating, ‘We are preparing to reinvigorate negotiations and have developed solutions to propose to our partners.’ However, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov clarified that no Russian representatives would attend the talks in Turkey, though Moscow remains open to dialogue. The U.S. has intensified pressure on Russia, with heavy sanctions targeting its oil industry set to take effect on Friday. These measures aim to cripple Russia’s war economy by targeting major oil companies like Rosneft and Lukoil, while also threatening secondary penalties for violators, including major importers like China and India. Amid these developments, Zelenskyy continues to bolster Ukraine’s military capabilities, signing agreements to acquire advanced weaponry from France, including Rafale warplanes and drones. On the ground, Ukrainian forces launched a surprise attack on energy infrastructure in the occupied Donetsk region, causing significant damage and power outages. Meanwhile, Russian strikes in Ukraine’s Kharkiv and Dnipro regions resulted in civilian casualties and infrastructure destruction. Both sides continue to exchange drone and missile attacks, underscoring the ongoing intensity of the conflict.