A new stage opens in the Ukraine war. The first North Korean soldiers have already arrived at the front in the Russian region of Kursk, bordering Ukraine where Ukrainian troops occupy part of the territory following the incursion last August, as confirmed by Ukrainian military intelligence on Thursday.
The Pentagon acknowledged for the first time the presence of North Korean troops in Russian territory, while the South Korean National Intelligence Service (NIS) estimated that around 3,000 soldiers have been sent by Pyongyang to the Russian Federation, where they would be receiving training to join Russian troops fighting in Ukraine.
According to the US, if these North Korean soldiers "get involved in active combat operations within Ukraine, it would be destabilizing for the Indo-Pacific." "Of course, that would have an impact on our allies, whether in Europe or in the Indo-Pacific."
US Maintains Red Lines with Kiev and Supports Ukrainian Weapons against Russia
After months of intense campaigning by Kiev for Washington to lift the ban on Ukraine using US missiles against military targets located within Russia, which has not yielded results, the White House has opted for an alternative solution, as reported by Efe.
During his visit to Kiev this Monday, the Pentagon chief, Lloyd Austin, announced two additional packages of military aid to Ukraine. The first, worth $400 million, will allow reinforcing the Ukrainian Army with ammunition, military equipment, and weaponry. However, it is the second package that represents a novelty in the US military assistance policy to Ukraine.
In his meeting with President Volodymyr Zelensky, Austin pledged an unprecedented investment of $800 million in the Ukrainian military industry so that Kiev can increase the production of long-range weaponry to strike Russia deep within its rear.
Usyk Appeals to Right-Wing 'Influencer' Joe Rogan to Ask Trump to Help Ukraine
Ukrainian world boxing champion Oleksandr Usyk has appealed to American right-wing opinion leader Joe Rogan to ask US presidential candidate Donald Trump to use his alleged influence over Russian President Vladimir Putin to achieve the release of Ukrainians imprisoned in Russia, as reported by Efe.
Besides hosting one of the most followed podcasts in pro-Trump right-wing circles in the US, where he is scheduled to interview the Republican candidate for the White House this Friday, Rogan describes himself on his social media account with 13 million followers as "a fan of mixed martial arts" and is also a passionate and regular commentator on boxing.
Putin States US-Russia Relations Will Depend on Washington After Elections
Vladimir Putin estimated on Thursday that Russia's relationship with the United States will depend on Washington after the November presidential elections and praised Donald Trump's sincerity regarding his desire to achieve peace in Ukraine, as reported by Afp.
"The development of Russian-American relations after the elections will depend on the United States. If they show openness, we will too. And if they don't want to, that's not a problem," stated the Russian president at a press conference following the BRICS summit in the Russian city of Kazan.
Guterres Reiterates to Putin that the Invasion of Ukraine Goes Against the UN Charter and Calls for Peace
UN Secretary-General António Guterres met with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday, where he reiterated his opposition to "the Russian invasion of Ukraine as a violation of the United Nations Charter and international law," while calling for peace without referring to potential negotiations between the two countries, as reported by Efe.
The UN released a brief statement on the content of the meeting between Guterres and Putin, held at the end of the BRICS group summit, conducted behind closed doors and without supporting images.
Japan Expresses "Serious Concern" Over Deployment of North Korean Troops in Russia
Japan expressed "serious concern" on Friday over the dispatch of North Korean troops to Russia for potential participation in the war in Ukraine, stating that this military cooperation "impacts the region's security," as reported by Efe.
"The government is closely monitoring the dispatch of North Korean troops to Russia, including the possibility of these troops participating in the Russian invasion of Ukraine," stated Yoshimasa Hayashi, the spokesperson for the Japanese government during a press conference.