Ukraine Live Blog: Zelenskiy's Challenges (Archive)

Here is today's map of the security situation in eastern Ukraine, according to the National Security and Defense Council (click to enlarge):

There were emotional scenes in Ukraine as prisoners freed as part of a prisoner swap with Russia arrived back in Kyiv. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said he hoped it marked a first step toward improved relations between the two countries. At the same time, Russians held in Ukraine returned to Moscow to a more low-key welcome.

There were emotional scenes in Ukraine as prisoners freed as part of a prisoner swap with Russia arrived back in Kyiv. At the same time, prisoners released by Ukraine returned to Moscow to a more low-key welcome.

Statement by NATO spokeswoman Oana Lungescu:

We welcome that the Ukrainian sailors seized by Russia last November are finally back home, as well as the filmmaker Oleg Sentsov. This is a step in the right direction. NATO continues to call on Russia to fulfill all its obligations under the Minsk agreements, including the release of all prisoners.

At the same time, it remains important to establish the truth and accountability for the downing of flight MH17, in line with United Nations Security Council Resolution 2166.