President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy held his first meeting with city mayors as part of a new format for direct dialogue with the regions.

We agreed with the American envoys on our next steps – we very much want these to be steps we take together with America toward peace and guaranteed security. The American side knows what can be effective in putting pressure on Russia and in providing real help to Ukraine.

“First, a humanitarian outcome – prisoners will be released, and we are counting on the largest prisoner exchange since the start of this war. The second outcome – we are involving European representatives even more actively in diplomacy so that they can have an equal seat at the negotiating table. Ukraine always defends the interests of all of Europe,” Volodymyr Zelenskyy noted.

The Head of State thanked them for their engagement in communication with the American side, their constructive approach, and their support. They discussed the meetings held in recent weeks and days in Brussels and Abu Dhabi.

The Head of State briefed her on the negotiation process, particularly the meetings in Abu Dhabi and the next diplomatic steps. The leaders also discussed Ukraine’s defense needs amid relentless Russian strikes on Ukrainian cities and energy infrastructure.

The Presidents of Ukraine and France also discussed the situation on the front line and the consequences of Russian strikes, which have made conditions very difficult in many Ukrainian cities and communities across Vinnytsia, Rivne, Kyiv, Dnipro, Cherkasy, Zhytomyr, Sumy, Chernihiv, Kharkiv, Donetsk, and Zaporizhzhia regions.

“Last month alone, the Russians hit 60 locomotives. We appreciate the Czech Republic’s decision this month to support Ukrzaliznytsia by providing locomotives. And we very much hope to find new formats of support and cooperation,” Volodymyr Zelenskyy noted.