Zelenskyy: Ukraine is ready to hand over captured soldiers to DPRK if Kim Jong-un facilitates exchange of Ukrainian military
- Anna Hakman
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20:33, 12 January, 2025
A captured soldier from the DPRK, photo: Telegram/ZelenskyyUkraine is ready to hand over its captured soldiers to North Korea in exchange for help in releasing Ukrainian soldiers from Russian captivity.
This was announced by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who stressed that the Russian army is increasingly dependent on Pyongyang's assistance.
«Putin began three years ago with NATO ultimatums and attempts to rewrite history, and now he cannot do without such military assistance from Pyongyang. Ukraine is ready to hand over his people to Kim Jong-un if he can organise their exchange for our soldiers who are held captive in Russia», Zelenskyy said.
The President also stressed that DPRK soldiers who do not want to return to their country can choose other ways.
«For those North Korean soldiers who do not want to return, there may be some other ways. In particular, those Koreans who wish to bring peace closer by spreading the truth about this war in Korean will have this opportunity», Volodymyr Zelenskyy added.
As a reminder, on 11 January, the Ukrainian military captured two North Korean soldiers for the first time in the Kursk region of Russia. Both were injured but survived. They have now been taken to Kyiv, where SSU investigators are working with them.
