MOSCOW/KYIV - Russian forces are working on establishing a security buffer zone along the country's border with Ukraine, Russian President Vladimir Putin said Thursday.

"The enemy's firing positions are being actively suppressed, and work is ongoing," Putin said at a government meeting, referring to the buffer zone.

ALSO READ: Kremlin: Work on Russia-Ukraine peace agreement memo progressing

The Russian president noted the necessity to begin restoration work in the border regions of Kursk, Belgorod and Bryansk and demine the areas where fighting previously took place.

Putin visited the Kursk region on Tuesday, where the Ukrainian army launched an offensive in August 2024. On April 26, Putin announced that Russia had regained full control of the region.

Also on Thursday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced that he held a meeting to prepare for a 1,000 for 1,000 prisoner exchange with Russia.

In a Telegram post following the meeting, Zelensky said Defense Minister Rustem Umerov is overseeing the implementation of the deal on the captives swap reached in Türkiye's Istanbul on May 16.

READ MORE: Turkish president pledges continued efforts to advance Russia-Ukraine peace talks

He noted that multiple Ukrainian agencies, including the Presidential Office, the Defense Intelligence, and the Security Service, are involved in the exchange process.

"We are clarifying the details for each individual included on the lists submitted by the Russian side," Zelensky said.

He stressed that the return of Ukrainians held in Russian captivity remains one of the country's top priorities.

Since March 2022, Ukraine and Russia have carried out 64 prisoner exchanges, under which more than 4,700 Ukrainians have been released.