Ukraine's Zelenskyy says Russia's war is being waged 'across borders' | Russia-Ukraine war News

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said thousands of North Korean troops are expected to reinforce former Russian forces in Ukraine that are continuing a three-year war without bordering the warring parties.

Western leaders say North Korea has sent up to 10,000 troops to help Russia's military campaign and warn that its involvement in the war in Europe could strain relations in the Indo-Pacific region, including Japan and Australia.

Zelenskyy said on Tuesday that he spoke to South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol and told him that 3,000 North Korean soldiers are already in military bases near the Ukrainian border and that he expects the number to rise to 12,000.

Pentagon spokesman Pat Ryder said Tuesday that a “small number” of North Korean troops are now in Russia's Kursk region, where Russian forces have been struggling to repel an invasion of Ukraine, and that several thousand more are headed there.

South Korea, which is close to NATO, the US and the European Union over the latest developments, warned last week that it could send weapons to Ukraine in retaliation for the North's involvement.

“There is only one conclusion – this war is international and goes beyond the borders” of Ukraine and Russia, Zelenskyy wrote in Telegram.

The Ukrainian president also said that he and Yoon agreed to increase their countries' cooperation and exchange more information, as well as to develop concrete responses to Pyongyang's involvement.

More support for the US military?

In Washington, White House National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan met on Tuesday with a top adviser to Zelenskyy to discuss the North Korean military, and the arrival of weapons that the US is bringing to Kyiv to help the Ukrainians strengthen the defense of their energy infrastructure, the Associated Press news agency reported, citing White House officials. House who knew their private conversations.

Sullivan and Andriy Yermak, the head of Ukraine's presidential office, shared concerns that North Korean troops might be sent to Russia's Kursk region and what such a development could mean for the war.

The officials, who were not authorized to comment publicly, said that during a two-hour meeting at the White House, Sullivan also told Yermak about President Joe Biden's plans to push weapons programs, ammunition, hundreds of armored vehicles and more into Ukraine before he leaves office in January.

Sullivan told Yermak that by the end of the year, the US administration plans to give Ukraine 500 more Patriot and ARAAM missiles to help strengthen its air defenses, according to officials.

Later on Tuesday, Biden said Ukraine should push itself back if North Korean troops cross the country.

“I'm concerned about it,” Biden said when asked about North Korean troops in the Kursk region.

“If they cross into Ukraine, yes,” he said when asked if Ukrainians should send them back.

Meanwhile, North Korea said its top diplomat visited Russia, which is another sign that their relations are strengthening.

North Korean Foreign Minister Choe Son Hui arrived in eastern Russia on Tuesday on his way to Moscow, Russian state media said. Russian state news agencies said it was unclear who Choe, on his second visit in six weeks, would meet.

The Kremlin said Russian President Vladimir Putin has no plans to meet with him.

What role the North Korean military might play is unclear.

“The numbers make this more than a symbolic effort, but the troops will be in support roles and make up less than 1 percent of Russia's military,” the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) think tank said in a paper.

“Russia is looking for more workers, and this is part of Russia's effort to fill the ranks without secondary integration,” he added, noting that the presence could increase.

Ukrainian cities were bombed

Meanwhile, Russian drones, missiles and bombs crashed in Kyiv and Kharkiv, Ukraine's largest cities, in overnight attacks, killing four people and wounding 15 during the airstrikes, authorities said on Tuesday.

Russia has attacked Ukrainian settlements almost every day since its full-scale invasion of its neighbor, causing thousands of casualties.

Russian troops are also pushing hard on defensive positions in Ukraine's eastern Donetsk region. The Russian Defense Ministry says that Russian forces captured the Donetsk city of Hirnyk and the villages of Katerynivka, and Bohoiavlenka.