(MENAFN) Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated on Wednesday that he aims to revive extensive prisoner exchanges with Russia before the close of the year, commending Türkiye’s role as mediator and affirming Kyiv’s confidence in the "strength of Turkish diplomacy."

During a press briefing in Ankara alongside Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Zelenskyy described their discussion as a “very productive and substantive” encounter.

He emphasized that Ukraine "greatly" appreciates the mutual confidence shared between both nations and their citizens.

Zelenskyy expressed gratitude to Türkiye for upholding a firm and principled position regarding the Russia-Ukraine conflict and for offering unequivocal backing for Ukraine’s independence, sovereignty, and territorial wholeness.

He noted that Türkiye and Ukraine talked about expanding cooperation, including joint manufacturing ventures, and indicated that their respective teams will advance the issues agreed upon during the meeting.

The Ukrainian leader also reiterated that both sides are making "every effort" to revive prisoner exchanges with Russia and voiced optimism that a substantial group of Ukrainian POWs could return home "by the end of the year."

“Türkiye is helping us greatly in this effort, and we want to personally thank you, Mr. President (Recep Tayyip Erdogan),” Zelenskyy said, pointing out that 2,500 Ukrainian prisoners of war have been or are in the process of being transferred back to Kyiv through Turkish-facilitated mechanisms.

He concluded by stressing the urgency of the matter, stating, "We need to accelerate these processes, and we need to speed up these diplomatic efforts.”

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