Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky addressed the nation, announcing the return of 44 more people from Russian captivity and his talks with Chinese leader Xi Jinping.

"I wish you good health, dear Ukrainians!

Firstly, I want to thank today our entire team that is working on exchanges.

We managed to bring home another 44 people from Russian captivity. Most of them are military personnel. From various directions. Among them are defenders of Azovstal and Mariupol, as well as other cities in Donetsk, Kherson, Kharkiv regions... The majority are privates and sergeants. There are officers too. Two of them are civilians.

And it is important that the team works on all those who are in captivity... Even if this is particularly difficult, as with certain categories of captives, not only military prisoners, but also civilian captives - one of these categories where it's especially hard.

We remember everyone. And even if there is no exact information about what happened to a specific person and where they might be, such a person is still being sought out and everything possible is checked. Ukraine must bring back all its people.

I thank each of you, guys who coordinate this work: Budanov, Yermak, Lubynets, Ussov, Maliuk, Klimenko... I thank everyone who helps in the General Staff of the Armed Forces, Office, SBU and other structures.

Of course, I want to specifically thank all our soldiers on the front lines who are collecting reinforcements for exchange funds. Each Russian captive is a chance to exchange our people.

In total, 2279 Ukrainians and Ukrainian women have been returned from Russian captivity since the start of full-scale war.

I spoke today with the leader of China. This was a long and quite rational conversation. Such talks usually open up opportunities. Now there is an opportunity to give new energy to our relations - Ukraine and China.

There is an opportunity to apply China's political influence to restore strength to principles and rules that should govern peace. Ukraine and China, along with the vast majority of the world, are equally interested in the integrity of national sovereignty and territorial integrity... In compliance with major security rules, including the non-proliferation of nuclear weapons around the world and the non-acceptability of nuclear threats. We are equally interested in ensuring that the situation around the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant is finally secured and that nuclear plants will never again be used for military purposes - which Russia is trying to make a norm.

It is very important that China has the same view as us on freedom of navigation and trade. I informed Mr. Xi Jinping about our efforts regarding the resumption of maritime food exports. And I heard words of support for our Black Sea Grain Initiative, its extension, as well as - support for our humanitarian efforts, including the "Grain from Ukraine" program.

Of course, a significant part of the conversation was about how we can restore a just peace. I presented Ukraine's peace formula and its specific points. We agreed to continue our communications.

Today I participated in a conference in Rome dedicated to rebuilding our country. This is such a special format for government officials and representatives of industry and business from our countries, Ukraine and Italy, so that we can directly involve those who embody the economic power of Italy into Ukraine.

I thank Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni for this conference and her words about unwavering support for Ukraine. It is important that we are already planning our cooperation in 24 years. This includes, among other things, Italy's future chairmanship of the G7 and preparations for a major reconstruction donor conference.

I had a separate phone call with Giorgia. The key topic was defense cooperation and support for our soldiers. Thank you, Italy!

We are also doing special work with partners on coordinating defensive steps and supplies. It is very important for Ukraine that everyone who works together with us to defend freedom clearly understands the prospects of our strength, what we can specifically do. The better we understand each other, the easier it is to work towards a common victory. For obvious reasons, details of such communication are not publicized yet.

One more thing.

I spoke today with IAEA Director General Grossi. The anniversary of the Chernobyl disaster is exactly the day to remind everyone in the world how fragile our safety is, especially when for over a year every day and minute there has been an artificially created Russian threat of a radiological catastrophe at the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant.

Only full control by Ukraine over the ZAES can restore full security, not only for our country but also for all of Europe and the entire world.

Radiation does not recognize state borders just as much as the Russian Federation. And only strict adherence to rules can guarantee safety.

I want to specifically thank Mr. Grossi for his initiative - a very important social initiative - of such a special medical support program for all our nuclear power plant personnel. Thank you for supporting our people!

Thank you everyone who helps us fight against aggression!

Glory to all Ukrainian soldiers fighting now on the front lines, at combat posts and on combat missions!

Glory to Ukraine!»