North Korea admits for first time it sent soldiers to fight for Russia in Ukraine war
North Korean forces "participated in the operations for liberating the Kursk areas", Pyongyang's Central Military Commission said in the KCNA report. North Korean leader Kim Jong Un's decision to deploy the troops, it said, was in accordance with a mutual defence treaty Kim signed with Putin in 2024. "They who fought for justice are all heroes and representatives of the honour of the motherland," Kim said, according to KCNA. Kim added that a monument to the "battle feats" would soon be built in the capital, and referred to "the tombstones of the fallen soldiers", publicly confirming that North Korean troops had been killed in combat.
Russia's president praised Moscow's "Korean friends" for their backing in Kursk. "We appreciate it a lot and are deeply grateful to comrade Kim Jong Un personally... and the North Korean people," the Kremlin cited Putin as saying. Russian Chief of Staff Valery Gerasimov on Saturday said North Korean soldiers "provided significant assistance in defeating the group of Ukrainian armed forces", but Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on Sunday his military was still fighting in Kursk.
"The question now is whether Kim Jong Un will attend Russia's Victory Day celebrations on May 9," said Lim Eul-chul, a professor at Seoul's Institute for Far Eastern Studies. Russia has pledged to hold its largest-ever Victory Day commemorations to mark 80 years since the defeat of Nazi Germany, featuring a massive military parade and an address from Putin. "While the likelihood of Kim attending the event appears relatively low, it cannot be entirely ruled out," Lim said.
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West Australian
19 minutes ago
- West Australian
Donald Trump, Vladimir Putin meet in Anchorage, Alaska for Ukraine peace talks
US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin have touched down and shared a handshake in Anchorage, Alaska, for a historic and high-stakes meeting that could determine the future of Ukraine. Mr Trump and Mr Putin, who were originally set to meet one-on-one, are currently in a three-on-three meeting at a US military base after a last-minute change that reportedly had officials scrambling. The US President was first to touch down in Air Force One at the Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson in Anchorage. For the first meeting with Mr Putin since the US President was reelected, after claiming he could end the Ukraine war in a day, Mr Trump rolled out the red carpet, literally, putting on a show for the Russian President. Mr Putin touched down around 30 minutes after Mr Trump. Nearly half a million people had watched Mr Putin's plane land on Flightradar24. The US President stood at the intersection of red carpets which led to each plane, waiting to shake the hand of Mr Putin as the two met on the tarmac. \ The two embraced, which political commentators are describing as warm. US F-22 aircraft were placed on either side of the red carpet and a B2 bomber with a US Air Force jet escort completed a flyover with US military might on full display. The leaders stood in front of an Alaska 2025 sign before the Russian President entered Mr Trump's limousine, which took the two to the meeting rooms. Moments before the presidential planes touched down, the White House confirmed Mr Trump would not meet Mr Putin alone. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt revealed US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Special Envoy Steve Witkoff would join Mr Trump in his meetings with Mr Putin. Like a quick move of political chess, Kremlin spokesman Dmitri Peskov announced Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and foreign policy adviser Yuri Ushakov would join Mr Putin. The meeting is now underway. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, who was not invited to the talks, and his European allies fear Trump might sell out Ukraine by essentially freezing the conflict and recognising, if only informally, Russian control over one-fifth of Ukraine. More to come...
Perth Now
19 minutes ago
- Perth Now
Trump, Putin shake hands in Alaska
US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin have touched down and shared a handshake in Anchorage, Alaska, for a historic and high-stakes meeting that could determine the future of Ukraine. Mr Trump and Mr Putin, who were originally set to meet one-on-one, are currently in a three-on-three meeting at a US military base after a last-minute change that reportedly had officials scrambling. The US President was first to touch down in Air Force One at the Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson in Anchorage. For the first meeting with Mr Putin since the US President was reelected, after claiming he could end the Ukraine war in a day, Mr Trump rolled out the red carpet, literally, putting on a show for the Russian President. Mr Putin touched down around 30 minutes after Mr Trump. Nearly half a million people had watched Mr Putin's plane land on Flightradar24. The US President stood at the intersection of red carpets which led to each plane, waiting to shake the hand of Mr Putin as the two met on the tarmac. \ Donald Trump welcomes his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin during a ceremony at an airport ahead of their meeting at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson. Sergei Bobylev/POOL/TASS/Sipa USA Credit: Sergei Bobylev / Sergei Bobylev/POOL/TASS/Sipa USA The two embraced, which political commentators are describing as warm. If you'd like to view this content, please adjust your . To find out more about how we use cookies, please see our Cookie Guide. US F-22 aircraft were placed on either side of the red carpet and a B2 bomber with a US Air Force jet escort completed a flyover with US military might on full display. The leaders stood in front of an Alaska 2025 sign before the Russian President entered Mr Trump's limousine, which took the two to the meeting rooms. Moments before the presidential planes touched down, the White House confirmed Mr Trump would not meet Mr Putin alone. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt revealed US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Special Envoy Steve Witkoff would join Mr Trump in his meetings with Mr Putin. Like a quick move of political chess, Kremlin spokesman Dmitri Peskov announced Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and foreign policy adviser Yuri Ushakov would join Mr Putin. The meeting is now underway. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, who was not invited to the talks, and his European allies fear Trump might sell out Ukraine by essentially freezing the conflict and recognising, if only informally, Russian control over one-fifth of Ukraine. More to come...
The Advertiser
19 minutes ago
- The Advertiser
Putin and Trump shake hands ahead of Alaska summit
US President Donald Trump has greeted Russian President Vladimir Putin with a handshake ahead of a high-stakes summit in Alaska that could determine whether a ceasefire can be reached in the deadliest war in Europe since the Second World War. Trump disembarked his plane, Air Force One, and awaited Putin on the tarmac. The two exchanged greetings while smiling. US F-22 aircraft were placed on either side of the red carpet. Nearly half a million people watched Putin's plane land on Flightradar24. The meeting is now underway. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, who was not invited to the talks, and his European allies fear Trump might sell out Ukraine by essentially freezing the conflict and recognising, if only informally, Russian control over one-fifth of Ukraine. Earlier, Trump sought to assuage such concerns, saying he would let Ukraine decide on any possible territorial swaps. "I'm not here to negotiate for Ukraine, I'm here to get them at a table," he said. Asked what would make the meeting a success, he told reporters: "I want to see a ceasefire rapidly... I'm not going to be happy if it's not today... I want the killing to stop." Both the US and Russian presidents, due to meet at a Cold War-era air force base in Alaska's largest city, are seeking wins from their first face-to-face talks since Trump returned to the White House. Trump will be joined in his meeting with Putin by Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Trump's special envoy to Russia, Steve Witkoff, White House spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt said. Putin is also expected to have senior aides at his side. Trump, who casts the war as a "bloodbath", is pressing for a truce in the 3.5-year-old war that would bolster his credentials as a global peacemaker worthy of the Nobel Peace Prize. For Putin, the summit is already a big win as he can use it to say that years of Western attempts to isolate Russia have unravelled and that Moscow has retaken its rightful place at the top table of international diplomacy. Russian special envoy Kirill Dmitriev described the pre-summit mood as "combative" and said the two leaders would discuss not only Ukraine but the full spectrum of bilateral relations, Russia's RIA news agency reported. Trump, who once said he would end Russia's war in Ukraine within 24 hours, conceded on Thursday it had proven a tougher nut to crack than he thought. He said that if talks went well, quickly arranging a second three-way summit with Zelenskiy would be even more important than his encounter with Putin. Zelenskiy said Russia was continuing to attack Ukraine ahead of a summit. "On the day of the negotiations, they also kill people. And that says a lot," Zelenskiy said on the Telegram messaging app. Earlier, Ukrainian regional officials said Russia had launched a ballistic missile into Dnipropetrovsk region in eastern Ukraine, killing one person and wounding at least one other. One source acquainted with Kremlin thinking said there were signs Moscow could be ready to strike a compromise on Ukraine, given that Putin understood Russia's economic vulnerability and costs of continuing the war. Russia, whose war economy is showing signs of strain, is vulnerable to further US sanctions. Ukrainians who spoke to Reuters in central Kyiv on Friday were not optimistic about the Alaska summit. "Nothing good will happen there, because war is war, it will not end. The territories - we're not going to give anything to anyone," said Tetiana Harkavenko, a 65-year-old cleaner. US President Donald Trump has greeted Russian President Vladimir Putin with a handshake ahead of a high-stakes summit in Alaska that could determine whether a ceasefire can be reached in the deadliest war in Europe since the Second World War. Trump disembarked his plane, Air Force One, and awaited Putin on the tarmac. The two exchanged greetings while smiling. US F-22 aircraft were placed on either side of the red carpet. Nearly half a million people watched Putin's plane land on Flightradar24. The meeting is now underway. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, who was not invited to the talks, and his European allies fear Trump might sell out Ukraine by essentially freezing the conflict and recognising, if only informally, Russian control over one-fifth of Ukraine. Earlier, Trump sought to assuage such concerns, saying he would let Ukraine decide on any possible territorial swaps. "I'm not here to negotiate for Ukraine, I'm here to get them at a table," he said. Asked what would make the meeting a success, he told reporters: "I want to see a ceasefire rapidly... I'm not going to be happy if it's not today... I want the killing to stop." Both the US and Russian presidents, due to meet at a Cold War-era air force base in Alaska's largest city, are seeking wins from their first face-to-face talks since Trump returned to the White House. Trump will be joined in his meeting with Putin by Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Trump's special envoy to Russia, Steve Witkoff, White House spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt said. Putin is also expected to have senior aides at his side. Trump, who casts the war as a "bloodbath", is pressing for a truce in the 3.5-year-old war that would bolster his credentials as a global peacemaker worthy of the Nobel Peace Prize. For Putin, the summit is already a big win as he can use it to say that years of Western attempts to isolate Russia have unravelled and that Moscow has retaken its rightful place at the top table of international diplomacy. Russian special envoy Kirill Dmitriev described the pre-summit mood as "combative" and said the two leaders would discuss not only Ukraine but the full spectrum of bilateral relations, Russia's RIA news agency reported. Trump, who once said he would end Russia's war in Ukraine within 24 hours, conceded on Thursday it had proven a tougher nut to crack than he thought. He said that if talks went well, quickly arranging a second three-way summit with Zelenskiy would be even more important than his encounter with Putin. Zelenskiy said Russia was continuing to attack Ukraine ahead of a summit. "On the day of the negotiations, they also kill people. And that says a lot," Zelenskiy said on the Telegram messaging app. Earlier, Ukrainian regional officials said Russia had launched a ballistic missile into Dnipropetrovsk region in eastern Ukraine, killing one person and wounding at least one other. One source acquainted with Kremlin thinking said there were signs Moscow could be ready to strike a compromise on Ukraine, given that Putin understood Russia's economic vulnerability and costs of continuing the war. Russia, whose war economy is showing signs of strain, is vulnerable to further US sanctions. Ukrainians who spoke to Reuters in central Kyiv on Friday were not optimistic about the Alaska summit. "Nothing good will happen there, because war is war, it will not end. The territories - we're not going to give anything to anyone," said Tetiana Harkavenko, a 65-year-old cleaner. US President Donald Trump has greeted Russian President Vladimir Putin with a handshake ahead of a high-stakes summit in Alaska that could determine whether a ceasefire can be reached in the deadliest war in Europe since the Second World War. Trump disembarked his plane, Air Force One, and awaited Putin on the tarmac. The two exchanged greetings while smiling. US F-22 aircraft were placed on either side of the red carpet. Nearly half a million people watched Putin's plane land on Flightradar24. The meeting is now underway. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, who was not invited to the talks, and his European allies fear Trump might sell out Ukraine by essentially freezing the conflict and recognising, if only informally, Russian control over one-fifth of Ukraine. Earlier, Trump sought to assuage such concerns, saying he would let Ukraine decide on any possible territorial swaps. "I'm not here to negotiate for Ukraine, I'm here to get them at a table," he said. Asked what would make the meeting a success, he told reporters: "I want to see a ceasefire rapidly... I'm not going to be happy if it's not today... I want the killing to stop." Both the US and Russian presidents, due to meet at a Cold War-era air force base in Alaska's largest city, are seeking wins from their first face-to-face talks since Trump returned to the White House. Trump will be joined in his meeting with Putin by Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Trump's special envoy to Russia, Steve Witkoff, White House spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt said. Putin is also expected to have senior aides at his side. Trump, who casts the war as a "bloodbath", is pressing for a truce in the 3.5-year-old war that would bolster his credentials as a global peacemaker worthy of the Nobel Peace Prize. For Putin, the summit is already a big win as he can use it to say that years of Western attempts to isolate Russia have unravelled and that Moscow has retaken its rightful place at the top table of international diplomacy. Russian special envoy Kirill Dmitriev described the pre-summit mood as "combative" and said the two leaders would discuss not only Ukraine but the full spectrum of bilateral relations, Russia's RIA news agency reported. Trump, who once said he would end Russia's war in Ukraine within 24 hours, conceded on Thursday it had proven a tougher nut to crack than he thought. He said that if talks went well, quickly arranging a second three-way summit with Zelenskiy would be even more important than his encounter with Putin. Zelenskiy said Russia was continuing to attack Ukraine ahead of a summit. "On the day of the negotiations, they also kill people. And that says a lot," Zelenskiy said on the Telegram messaging app. Earlier, Ukrainian regional officials said Russia had launched a ballistic missile into Dnipropetrovsk region in eastern Ukraine, killing one person and wounding at least one other. One source acquainted with Kremlin thinking said there were signs Moscow could be ready to strike a compromise on Ukraine, given that Putin understood Russia's economic vulnerability and costs of continuing the war. Russia, whose war economy is showing signs of strain, is vulnerable to further US sanctions. Ukrainians who spoke to Reuters in central Kyiv on Friday were not optimistic about the Alaska summit. "Nothing good will happen there, because war is war, it will not end. The territories - we're not going to give anything to anyone," said Tetiana Harkavenko, a 65-year-old cleaner. US President Donald Trump has greeted Russian President Vladimir Putin with a handshake ahead of a high-stakes summit in Alaska that could determine whether a ceasefire can be reached in the deadliest war in Europe since the Second World War. Trump disembarked his plane, Air Force One, and awaited Putin on the tarmac. The two exchanged greetings while smiling. US F-22 aircraft were placed on either side of the red carpet. Nearly half a million people watched Putin's plane land on Flightradar24. The meeting is now underway. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, who was not invited to the talks, and his European allies fear Trump might sell out Ukraine by essentially freezing the conflict and recognising, if only informally, Russian control over one-fifth of Ukraine. Earlier, Trump sought to assuage such concerns, saying he would let Ukraine decide on any possible territorial swaps. "I'm not here to negotiate for Ukraine, I'm here to get them at a table," he said. Asked what would make the meeting a success, he told reporters: "I want to see a ceasefire rapidly... I'm not going to be happy if it's not today... I want the killing to stop." Both the US and Russian presidents, due to meet at a Cold War-era air force base in Alaska's largest city, are seeking wins from their first face-to-face talks since Trump returned to the White House. Trump will be joined in his meeting with Putin by Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Trump's special envoy to Russia, Steve Witkoff, White House spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt said. Putin is also expected to have senior aides at his side. Trump, who casts the war as a "bloodbath", is pressing for a truce in the 3.5-year-old war that would bolster his credentials as a global peacemaker worthy of the Nobel Peace Prize. For Putin, the summit is already a big win as he can use it to say that years of Western attempts to isolate Russia have unravelled and that Moscow has retaken its rightful place at the top table of international diplomacy. Russian special envoy Kirill Dmitriev described the pre-summit mood as "combative" and said the two leaders would discuss not only Ukraine but the full spectrum of bilateral relations, Russia's RIA news agency reported. Trump, who once said he would end Russia's war in Ukraine within 24 hours, conceded on Thursday it had proven a tougher nut to crack than he thought. He said that if talks went well, quickly arranging a second three-way summit with Zelenskiy would be even more important than his encounter with Putin. Zelenskiy said Russia was continuing to attack Ukraine ahead of a summit. "On the day of the negotiations, they also kill people. And that says a lot," Zelenskiy said on the Telegram messaging app. Earlier, Ukrainian regional officials said Russia had launched a ballistic missile into Dnipropetrovsk region in eastern Ukraine, killing one person and wounding at least one other. One source acquainted with Kremlin thinking said there were signs Moscow could be ready to strike a compromise on Ukraine, given that Putin understood Russia's economic vulnerability and costs of continuing the war. Russia, whose war economy is showing signs of strain, is vulnerable to further US sanctions. Ukrainians who spoke to Reuters in central Kyiv on Friday were not optimistic about the Alaska summit. "Nothing good will happen there, because war is war, it will not end. The territories - we're not going to give anything to anyone," said Tetiana Harkavenko, a 65-year-old cleaner.
