Ukraine’s Zelensky says Putin to use North Korea troops as ‘cannon fodder’ in war
Ukrainian president says North Koreans deployed in western Russia have been killed in combat against his forces
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Sunday that North Korean soldiers deployed in western Russia to fight on Moscow’s side in the war against his country have been killed, and it is almost certain they will ultimately be used as “cannon fodder” on the front lines of the conflict.
In an exclusive interview with Kyodo News at the presidential palace in Kyiv, Zelensky also said support for Ukraine from its partners is “not enough” and urged Nato to invite Kyiv for membership talks with the transatlantic military alliance as soon as possible.
Zelensky, who continues to see Nato membership as indispensable for Ukraine’s security and prosperity, underscored that the war has entered a “complicated period” as Russia advances faster in the eastern part of his country.
Zelensky expressed appreciation for Japan, the United States, South Korea and numerous European and other countries that have provided assistance for Ukraine and imposed sanctions against Russia. But he stressed that more help is needed to strengthen Ukraine.
Responding to all questions in Ukrainian, he did not say how many North Korean troops, initially transferred to eastern Russia in October, have been killed or wounded in combat against Ukrainian forces.
He said there has been evidence that about 12,000 North Korean soldiers have been deployed to Russia’s Kursk region bordering Ukraine by now, but Kyiv needs “to have proof” before disclosing the exact number of casualties.
