Umerov seeks to resume prisoner exchanges during visit to Turkey – Zelensky

President Volodymyr Zelensky said this in his evening video address, Ukrinform reports.

"Today, Rustem Umerov is holding meetings in Turkiye – with the Foreign Minister of Turkiye and, next, with the intelligence services. We are working very hard to resume prisoner exchanges in the new year – this is precisely the key topic in our talks with Turkiye. We need this facilitation to bring our Ukrainians home from Russian captivity. Last year, the swaps were active, but toward the end of the year they slowed down, unfortunately. Now they must be resumed," he said.

In addition, according to Zelensky, the NSDC Secretary is in contact with the American team and Ukraine's partners in Europe.

"We are preparing formats and important meetings. On January 3, a meeting of national security advisors will take place in Ukraine. This is the first such meeting in Ukraine focused on peace. European representatives will attend, and we expect the American team to join online. Fifteen countries have confirmed their participation, along with representatives of European institutions and NATO," Zelensky announced.

He added that a meeting of military officials at the level of Chiefs of the General Staff is scheduled for January 5.

"The main issue is security guarantees for Ukraine. Politically, almost everything is ready, and it is important to work through every detail of how the guarantees will function in the air, on land, and at sea – if we succeed in ending the war. And this is the key goal for all normal people," he said.

According to Zelensky, a leaders-level meeting of European countries that are part of the Coalition of the Willing is scheduled for January 6.

"We are preparing now to ensure that the meeting is productive, that support increases, and that there is greater political confidence both in the security guarantees and in the peace agreement. I thank everyone who is helping us," Zelensky said.

As Ukrinform previously reported, NSDC Secretary Rustem Umerov and Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan discussed the security situation and the return of Ukrainians from Russian captivity during a meeting in Ankara.

Photo: Office of the President