On the evening of January 1, 2026, local time, Ukrainian President Zelensky said that he had heard a report from Umerov, Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine, on his visit to Turkey on the same day. Earlier in the day, Umerov met with Turkish Foreign Minister Feidan and Turkish National Intelligence Service Director Ibrahim Kalin in Turkey. Zelensky said that at the beginning of the new year, Ukraine made every effort to promote the resumption of prisoner of war exchanges; this is the core topic of talks with Turkey. The Ukrainian side needs help from Turkey to help Ukrainian citizens in Russia return to their homes. He said that the exchange campaign was very active last year, but it stalled at the end of the year, and now it needs to be restarted.

On the evening of January 1, 2026, local time, Ukrainian President Zelensky said that he had heard a report from Umerov, Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine, on his visit to Turkey on the same day. Earlier in the day, Umerov met with Turkish Foreign Minister Feidan and Turkish National Intelligence Service Director Ibrahim Kalin in Turkey. Zelensky said that at the beginning of the new year, Ukraine made every effort to promote the resumption of prisoner of war exchanges; this is the core topic of talks with Turkey. The Ukrainian side needs help from Turkey to help Ukrainian citizens in Russia return to their homes. He said that the exchange campaign was very active last year, but it stalled at the end of the year, and now it needs to be restarted.