Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky visited the frontline region of Donetsk in east Ukraine, where his forces are fighting against a grinding Russian assault, he said Friday.
The visit comes as Ukraine seeks to strengthen its frontline defenses.
The Russian army recorded its slowest advance on the front in nearly two years in February, as Kyiv successfully pushed back in some areas, according to data from the Institute for the Study of War.
"The Russians are not abandoning the war, and here, in the Donetsk region, they are preparing an offensive for the spring," Zelensky said in a post on X.
"It is important that our positions are strong," he added.
He posted a video that appeared to show him in Druzhkivka -- a town that lies about 15 kilometers (nine miles) from the front with Russia's troops, which has come under regular Russian shelling.
During the visit he also handed out awards to soldiers, he said in a separate Facebook post.
"The stronger we are here, the stronger we are in the negotiation process," he said.
Zelensky has made frequent visits to the front since Russia invaded in February 2022.
