North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has reaffirmed his support for Russia’s “just cause” in its conflict with Ukraine. He stated that the North Korean army and its people “will invariably support and encourage the just cause of the Russian army and people to defend their sovereignty, security, and territorial integrity.” In light of the trilateral military collaboration between the US, Japan, and South Korea, Kim emphasized the country’s “unshakable policy of further developing its nuclear forces.”
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy confirmed this week that North Korean troops have returned to the front lines in Russia’s Kursk region, following reports that Moscow had previously withdrawn them due to significant losses. Last month, South Korea expressed suspicions that North Korea was preparing to send additional troops to Russia, on top of the approximately 11,000 soldiers already dispatched to support Moscow’s efforts in the nearly three-year conflict.
UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy stated that an end to the fighting in Ukraine is not imminent, despite Donald Trump’s claims of being able to quickly broker peace. “I am not sure we are weeks away from peace talks. Our assessment, which I believe the US shares, is that [Vladimir] Putin shows absolutely no appetite for negotiation to end this war,” Lammy remarked after meeting with Zelenskyy and senior Ukrainian officials in Kyiv.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has indicated that the UK will “play a full part” in any future security guarantees and has not dismissed the possibility of sending British troops to Ukraine as peacekeepers if a ceasefire with Russia is achieved. However, Lammy noted that discussions with European and G7 allies regarding the necessary guarantees would “run for some months yet,” making it “premature” to predict the UK’s role.
Russia has expressed that it sees no positive developments from the new US administration regarding disarmament, according to RIA state news agency. Gennady Gatilov, Russia’s permanent representative to the UN, stated in an interview that Russia is “ready to maintain smooth relations of cooperation with any American administration.” He added, “We would be ready to do this within the framework of the Conference on Disarmament… So far, we do not see any positive progress in this regard in Geneva.”
Zelenskyy mentioned that he has met with the chair of NATO’s military committee to assess Ukraine’s long-range weaponry capabilities. In a post on X, he confirmed that discussions with Giuseppe Cavo Dragone included ongoing military assistance from NATO member states and direct investments in the domestic production of long-range drones.
Additionally, a Russian telecoms cable in the Baltic Sea was reportedly damaged by an “external impact,” as reported by Russian state media agency Tass. The state-owned Rostelecom company announced that restoration efforts are underway but did not provide further details.
