Zelensky visited the eastern front, Ukraine and Russia exchanged prisoners of war

(Patria) - Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky stated that he visited the eastern front line on Friday as Ukraine and Russia concluded a two-day prisoner of war exchange, exchanging 500 soldiers each, Reuters reported.

Zelensky awarded medals to soldiers defending positions near Druzhkivka and Kostyantynivka, cities in the eastern Donetsk region where Russia has concentrated its forces. Moscow was preparing for a spring offensive there, he said.

"This is important not only from the perspective of defending our country on the battlefield, but it is also very important geopolitically," Zelensky told soldiers of the 28th Separate Mechanized Brigade, according to a video posted on his Telegram channel.

"The stronger we are in the eastern direction, the stronger we are in the negotiation process."

Under pressure from the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump, Ukraine and Russia have held several rounds of talks trying to find a diplomatic solution on how to end the war, which is now in its fifth year. But the two sides remain far apart in their positions, and the territory in the eastern Donetsk region is a key stumbling block.

Ukraine and Russia exchanged 500 soldiers each

One of the few concrete results that have emerged from the talks include agreements on prisoner of war exchanges.

"This week, Ukraine and Russia carried out another prisoner exchange, with 1,000 individuals returned following agreements reached during recent trilateral negotiations in Geneva with the United States," said U.S. Special Envoy Steve Witkoff on social media X.

Kyiv and Moscow exchanged 300 soldiers each on Friday, and another 200 prisoners of war the day before. This is the second prisoner of war exchange this year. Zelensky said that two Ukrainian civilians were also returned home on Friday.

The Russian Ministry of Defense stated that the United States and the United Arab Emirates acted as mediators in the exchange. The previous prisoner of war exchange was in early February following peace talks in Abu Dhabi earlier that month.

Ukraine had hoped for a new round of peace talks in early March, but it was postponed after the United States and Israel launched attacks on Iran.

"Talks are still ongoing, and further progress is expected in the coming weeks," Witkoff said.