KYIV, Ukraine

The Ukrainian president on Saturday said his country is prepared to exchange its troops who surrendered at the Azovstal steel plant in Mariupol for Russian prisoners.

In an interview with a Ukrainian television channel, Volodymyr Zelenskyy said the most important thing for him is to save the maximum number of people and soldiers. "We will bring them home," he said.

Russia claims to have taken full control of the besieged city of Mariupol after the last group of Ukrainian soldiers surrendered.

The president added that Ukraine would do all it can to end the war, which began in February and has left thousands dead or wounded, and forced more than 6.3 million people in Ukraine to flee abroad.

He said diplomacy would ultimately end the war, despite the current suspension of negotiations.

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*Writing by Ali Murat Alhas