Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced that North Korean troops have reappeared on the frontlines in Russia’s Kursk region, following reports of their withdrawal due to significant losses. In his evening address on Friday, Zelenskyy stated, “There have been new assaults in the Kursk operation areas… the Russian army and North Korean soldiers have been brought in again.” He noted that a “significant number” of opposing forces had been “destroyed,” estimating the casualties to be in the hundreds for both Russian and North Korean soldiers.
A week prior, a Ukrainian military spokesperson mentioned that there had been no encounters or clashes with North Korean troops for three weeks. According to South Korean and Western intelligence, Pyongyang dispatched over 10,000 soldiers to Russia last year to assist in countering Ukraine’s advances in the border region.
Former President Donald Trump indicated on Friday that he would “probably” meet with Zelenskyy next week, to which the Ukrainian president expressed his appreciation for collaborating with Trump. When asked by reporters if the meeting would take place in Washington, Trump replied, “It could be Washington – well, I’m not going there,” referring to Kyiv. Zelenskyy confirmed that “talks” were being organized but did not specify a meeting. He mentioned on X that discussions at the team level were also in the works, with Ukrainian and American teams currently finalizing details.
Additionally, Zelenskyy’s chief of staff, Andriy Yermak, expressed anticipation for a visit this month from Trump’s special envoy for the region, Keith Kellogg. Yermak stated they had discussed various topics, including the battlefield situation, the safety of Ukrainian civilians, and upcoming meetings at the annual Munich security conference.
In related developments, Russia has claimed to have taken control of the key eastern Ukrainian mining town of Toretsk. If verified, this would mark the largest settlement captured by Moscow since Avdiivka in February of the previous year. However, Kyiv has denied that Russia has full control over the industrial hub. Analysts suggest that capturing Toretsk, which is situated on elevated terrain, would enable Moscow to further disrupt Ukrainian supply routes and advance deeper into the northern Donetsk region.
A former resident, Galyna Poroshyna, lamented the destruction of her hometown, stating, “There is nothing to go back to. Everything is destroyed. Everything.” A press officer from Ukraine’s 28th brigade, engaged in the fight for Toretsk, reported that Ukrainian forces were maintaining their positions on the outskirts of the town, although battlefield reports remain unverified.
Next week, European foreign ministers will convene in Paris to discuss the ongoing Ukraine conflict, with reports suggesting that US envoys may also participate. Ministers from France, Germany, Poland, Britain, Spain, and Italy are expected to attend the discussions on Wednesday.
