Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy met with his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Ankara Wednesday as part of his efforts to diplomatically isolate Russia and bring more international pressure to bear on its leadership.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has so far resisted making compromises, despite U.S. pressure.

"Turkey is always ready to discuss with Russia proposals that will accelerate the ceasefire and pave the way for a just and lasting peace," said Erdogan.

In brief statements to the press, Zelenskyy and Erdogan expressed their commitment to finding a peaceful settlement.

Turkey is a key broker in the Black Sea region, preserving relations with both Ukraine and Russia.

Zelenskyy said before the talks that he had seen “some positions and signals from the United States" about the war.

He didn’t elaborate but tough new American sanctions on Russia’s oil industry, devised to push Putin to the negotiating table, are due to take effect on Friday.

A senior Turkish official initially said that U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff would join Zelenskyy in Turkey, but backtracked later in the day and said Witkoff wouldn’t be coming.

The official spoke on the condition of anonymity Tuesday because he wasn't permitted to speak publicly about the arrangements