President Volodymyr Zelensky called for a long-term and sustainable peace in Ukraine this year in comments on the third anniversary of the Russian invasion.

"This year should be the year of the beginning of a real, lasting peace. Putin will not give us peace or give it to us in exchange for anything. We must win peace through strength, wisdom and unity," Zelensky was quoted as saying by AFP.

He also proposed a full exchange of all prisoners of war with Russia as a "start" to the process of ending the conflict.

"Russia must free the Ukrainians. Ukraine is ready to exchange all for all and this is a fair way to start," the Ukrainian president said. | BGNES