Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is rallying Western backing and intensifying his push for a negotiated settlement amid renewed peace talks in Turkey. Zelensky is set to meet a key Trump envoy in Istanbul as part of an international effort to revive dialogue; however, Russian President Vladimir Putin has declined to attend in person, with Moscow bitter over being sidelined and still bristling from a recent Budapest diplomatic snub. The Kremlin’s official response was a chilling warning: “We’ll be waiting,” as Russia accelerates its assault and denounces new Western military deals with Ukraine.