Among Russia's companion countries, North Korea poses the most significant risk to Ukraine.
According to Ukrainian Intelligence, North Korea Pose's Russia's Greatest ThreatAs per the Ukrainian intelligence service, North Korea poses the most significant threat among Russia's allies. At the Yalta European Strategy (YES) conference in Kyiv, Ukrainian intelligence chief Kyrylo Budanow stated, "Among all of Russia's allies, North Korea is our biggest issue." He further added that North Korea's military aid to Russia, including large quantities of ammunition, has significantly intensified the fighting. North Korean leader Kim Jong Un had announced plans to strengthen ties with Russia during his talks with Russian Security Council Secretary Sergei Shoigu. Ukrainian intelligence is closely monitoring Pyongyang's weapons shipments to Moscow and feels their impact on the battlefield. Budanow expressed concerns about the vast amounts of artillery being supplied by North Korea.
Russia's Recruitment Issues Predicted by Ukraine by Mid-2025According to Ukraine, Russia may face recruitment problems by mid-2025. Ukrainian intelligence chief Kyrylo Budanow, speaking at a conference in Kyiv, stated that by summer 2025, the Moscow government will face a dilemma: "Either declare mobilization or somehow reduce the intensity of hostilities." This could significantly impact Russia. Russian officials have not yet commented on Ukraine's prediction.
Scholz Calls Russian Attack on Ukraine 'Foolish'German Chancellor Olaf Scholz accused Russian President Vladimir Putin of gambling away Russia's future by attacking Ukraine. At a citizen dialogue in the Brandenburg town of Prenzlau, Scholz said, "The war is utterly foolish from Russia's perspective." He added that Putin was sending hundreds of thousands of Russian soldiers to heavy injuries and death, and destroying Russia's economic relations with many countries worldwide. Scholz also stated that Ukraine will have a stronger army than before and that Germany will continue to militarily support it. He criticized Putin for ruining Russia's future and emphasized that a peaceful solution can only be achieved if Russia accepts that Ukraine is not a vassal state.
Ukrainian Forces Report Mixed Success in KurskUkrainian forces reported new territorial gains in their push into the western Russian region of Kursk but also losses due to Russian counterattacks. According to the pro-government Ukrainian military channel Deep State, Ukrainian units have captured three more settlements. However, Russian counterattacks have pushed Ukrainian troops back in the vicinity of the village of Snagost. A map published by Deep State shows a significant breach in Ukrainian defense lines. These reports are yet to be independently verified. In early August, Ukrainian troops entered the Russian border region of Kursk and claimed to have taken control of around 1,300 square kilometers and about 100 settlements, including the town of Sudzha. Observers estimate smaller territorial gains. This week, the Russian military made its first serious attempt to expel Ukrainian troops.
Delays in Ukraine Aid Due to "Logistical" Issues in U.S.U.S. officials have attributed delays in military aid to Ukraine to "challenging logistics." Jake Sullivan, the White House national security advisor, stated at the Yalta European Strategy (YES) conference in Kyiv that "It's about the complex logistics of getting this material to the front lines." Despite the challenges, Sullivan has acknowledged that the U.S. must "do more" and "be better" for Ukraine. President Joe Biden is "determined" to use his remaining time in office to "put Ukraine in the best possible position to win," Sullivan announced. Biden and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy will meet at the UN General Assembly in New York later this month.
Scholz Wants to Prosecute Nord Stream Pipeline Saboteurs in GermanyOlaf Scholz has called the sabotage of the Nord Stream pipeline's pipes in the Baltic Sea a "terrorist act." The German chancellor wants to prosecute the perpetrators in Germany. At a citizen dialogue in Brandenburg's Prenzlau, Scholz said, "That is, we're instructing all security agencies and the federal prosecutor to investigate without regard to anyone. Nothing will be swept under the rug." He emphasized, "We want to bring those responsible to justice in a German court if we can apprehend them." Scholz also dismissed the misconception that the German government has renounced Russian natural gas. It was Russia that had shut off the gas tap through the Nord Stream 1 pipeline. The subsequent price explosion, state-capped prices, and search for alternative gas supplies have cost Germany "over 100 billion euros." The explosions on the pipeline only occurred after Russia had already stopped supplying Western Europe through the Baltic Sea. In August, the federal prosecutor issued the first arrest warrant against a Ukrainian citizen for the sabotage act.
20:24 G7 Criticizes Iran's Rocket Shipments to RussiaReports indicate that Iran is providing Russia with rockets, prompting the economically powerful democracies of the G7 to strongly condemn this weapon supply. Despite numerous international appeals to halt these shipments, Iran persists in arming Russia, thereby intensifying Iran's military support for Russia's conflict against Ukraine, as stated in a joint communique by the foreign ministers of Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the UK, the US, and the EU's high representative. Russia is reportedly using Iranian weapons to kill Ukrainian civilians and target critical infrastructure. In recent times, the UK and US have alleged that Russia received ballistic missiles from Iran. Tehran has denied these claims. "Iran must forthwith cease all support for Russia's unlawful and unjustified war against Ukraine and stop the provision of ballistic missiles, drones, and related technology that poses an immediate threat to the Ukrainian populace and regional and global security," the statement released by Italy's G7 presidency reads. "We remain resolute in holding Iran accountable for its intolerable support for Russia's unlawful war in Ukraine, which only serves to weaken global security."
19:41 Putin Defends Freedom of Speech in RussiaDespite his imprisoned critics finding it contradictory, Russian President Vladimir Putin stresses the significance of freedom of speech and information. "In a period when the multifaceted process of multipolarity is progressing, it is particularly crucial to safeguard the principles of information credibility," Putin said in a video message to participants of the media summit of the Brics countries in Moscow to celebrate the 120th anniversary of the state news agency TASS. "True freedom of speech, which upholds various viewpoints, allows for the discovery of compromises and shared solutions to the world's issues," Putin added. Media plays a vital role in fostering a fair world order, offering people a "factual and impartial perspective of the world." However, freedom of speech and media is not recognized in Russia's authoritarian regime. Independent media have been banned and closed down, and opponents of the government are persecuted by the judiciary. TASS, established in 1904 under various names, is now Russia's largest news agency and is also considered the government's spokesperson.
19:20 Scholz Rejects Delivery of Taurus Cruise Missiles to UkraineChancellor Olaf Scholz has rejected the possibility of supplying long-range precision weapons to Ukraine in the future, regardless of the decisions of alliance partners. At a citizens' dialogue in the Brandenburg town of Prenzlau, he reiterated his opposition to the delivery of Taurus cruise missiles with a range capable of reaching Moscow (approximately 500 kilometers), citing the "high risk of escalation" such a move would entail. "I have said no to that. And that, of course, also applies to other weapons capable of reaching such distances," Scholz said. "That remains the case. (.) Even if other nations make different choices." (See also entry from 17:24.) The farthest-reaching weapon Germany has provided to Ukraine is the Mars II rocket launcher, which can strike targets 84 kilometers away.
18:29 Stoltenberg Regrets NATO Could Have Prevented Russian Invasion of UkraineNATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg admits in an interview with "FAZ" that NATO could have supplied Ukraine with more weapons to deter a Russian invasion. "Now we are providing military supplies for a war – then we could have provided military supplies to prevent the war," Stoltenberg said. The day the war commenced was the lowest point of his ten-year tenure, he added. (See also entry from 10:31.) Stoltenberg is scheduled to step down as NATO Secretary-General on October 1 after ten years, to be succeeded by the former Dutch prime minister, Mark Rutte.
17:50 Scholz Aims for Clarity on PCK Refinery Ownership by Year's EndChancellor Olaf Scholz anticipates attaining clarity concerning the future ownership structure of the PCK refinery in Schwedt by the end of the year. "We hope that everything will be clear by the end of the year," the Chancellor said at a citizens' dialogue in the Brandenburg town of Prenzlau. He revealed that Rosneft, the Russian co-owner, had been informed that its stake must be sold under the supervision of the German government. He disclosed that the government was aware of the ongoing "plausible" negotiations. "We know who is talking to whom and what they are discussing," Scholz said, referring to a potential investor from Qatar. Besides, Kazakhstan is supplying oil to Schwedt via a Russian pipeline, substituting Russian oil following Russia's attack on Ukraine. The German government initially extended the trusteeship for the Rosneft shares by an additional half-year in early September to facilitate negotiation. The alternative would be the expropriation of the Russian stake, which is considered legally complex.
17:24 Scholz Rules Out Use of Long-Range Weapons Against Russian Deep Targets by UkraineChancellor Olaf Scholz has confirmed that Ukraine will not be authorized to utilize weapons provided by Germany with greater ranges for strikes on targets situated deep within Russia. "That remains the case," Scholz said at a citizens' dialogue in the Brandenburg town of Prenzlau. "Therefore, I will maintain my stance, even if other nations take different decisions," he said, referring to the United States. "I will not do so because I consider it a problem."
16:57 Hofreiter Warns of Additional "Tons of Refugees" from Ukraine Due to the upcoming enhancements in border controls, the chairman of the European Affairs Committee in the German parliament, Anton Hofreiter, is advocating for collective action with Poland, among others. "If we fail to consistently back Ukraine, we ought to prepare for tens of thousands of refugees from the Russian invasion in Ukraine in the upcoming years," Hofreiter mentioned to the "Tagesspiegel," addressing the criticisms made by Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk regarding the increased border controls at Germany's outer boundaries. Hofreiter advocates for a European solution to immigration policy. He warns that if each nation-state were to implement its own border controls, it would mark the beginning of the end for the EU. He anticipates that Federal Chancellor Olaf Scholz and Tusk will maintain close coordination in the future, he added.
16:32 British Spy Agencies Release Evidence of Bridges Destroyed in Kursk Region by Ukraine The British intelligence agency has published images of bridges that were demolished by the Ukrainian army over the Seim River during operations in the Kursk region. "Ukraine continues to disrupt Russian logistics in the Kursk region through a series of attacks that have destroyed road and pontoon bridges over the Seym River," the British Ministry of Defense wrote on X. The images were acquired in mid and late August. Ukraine initiated its offensive in the Russian region of Kursk on August 6 and progressed a few kilometers into Russian territory.
16:05 Casualties Reported in Ukrainian Assault on Belgorod Region At least five individuals were injured in a Ukrainian assault on the southern Russian region of Belgorod, as per official reports. Governor Vyacheslav Gladkov reported that several projectiles struck a section of road between Belgorod and Shebekino, injuring four people and damaging several vehicles. In the nearby village of Vosnesenkovka, a woman was injured when a drone impacted a private residence. The information has yet to be substantiated independently. Russia frequently targets civilian areas in neighboring countries. The Ukrainian city of Kharkiv, approximately 30 kilometers from the border, is one of the most frequently shelled cities. Ukrainian artillery and military drones regularly target areas within the southern Russian region of Belgorod across the border. During the summer, Russia initiated an offensive against Kharkiv with the declared aim of creating a buffer zone, but the Russian attacks stalled a few kilometers behind the border.
15:44 Exclusive Access: Doctor-converted Train Treats Wounded Ukrainians Several Ukrainian hospitals have been damaged, and medical personnel work tirelessly around the clock. To provide swift treatment to the wounded, a special train is being utilized, among other things. A team from the CNN channel was granted access to this train.
15:26 Hollywood Star Michael Douglas Visits Children in Kyiv American actor Michael Douglas visited the "Iron Land" children's area at Kyiv Central Station on Friday. This was announced by the state-owned Ukrainian railway company Ukrzaliznytsia on Facebook. According to the report, the Hollywood star interacted with passengers amid his stroll through the station. Prior to this, he met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and his wife Olena, acting as a UN ambassador, alongside his son Dylan.
14:49 Kyiv Seeks Permission for Missile Strikes: "It Appears as if Biden Won't Change His Mind" Retired Colonel Ralph Thiele anticipates that the controversy surrounding Ukrainian long-range attacks on Russia will once again spark discussions on Taurus missile deliveries. The military expert believes that the United States will maintain its stance.
13:58 Zelensky Confirms Release of 103 Prisoners Ukraine confirms a prisoner exchange with Russia. A total of 103 individuals have been released from Russian captivity and returned to Ukraine, President Zelensky announced. Among them are soldiers, National Guard, border guards, and police. They are defenders of the regions of Kyiv, Donetsk, Luhansk, Saporizhzhia, Kharkiv, and the city of Mariupol and the Azovstal plant.
13:38 USA Nods for Sale of Advanced Fighter Jets to Romania The United States government has authorized the sale of 32 advanced F-35 fighter jets to Romania, a NATO ally bordering Ukraine. US Ambassador to Bucharest, Kathleen Kavalec, explained: "Romania is a critical ally in the NATO alliance, dedicated to security and stability in the Black Sea region and beyond." With the acquisition of these stealth, multifunctional combat aircraft from Lockheed Martin, Romania will gain "unprecedented air defense capabilities," Kavalec further stated. The first delivery is scheduled for 2031. The estimated cost of the deal is between $7.2 billion.
13:02 Russia: Over 200 Prisoners Exchanged with Ukraine Russia and Ukraine have exchanged over 200 prisoners, according to Russia. Each side has released 103 individuals, the Russian Defense Ministry announced on Telegram. The Russian soldiers are currently in Belarus, receiving psychological and medical aid, the ministry stated. According to the ministry, the exchanged Russian soldiers were captured in Kursk. Ukraine has yet to respond to Russia's statements on the exchange. On Friday, Ukrainian President Zelensky announced the return of 49 prisoners from Russia. Whether these individuals were part of the exchange announced by Russia remains unclear.
12:50 Russia Declares Victory over Another Village in Eastern Ukraine In eastern Ukraine, the Russian forces announce the capture of yet another village. As per the Russian Defense Ministry, the village of Yelannoe Pervoe (Yelanne Perche in Ukrainian) has been seized. The small settlement is situated near the strategically vital city of Pokrovsk, which is now under threat due to Russia's advance. The Russian army has gained significant momentum in the Donetsk region in recent weeks. Russian President Vladimir Putin has reiterated that the primary objective of the Russian army is to seize the industrially significant Donbass region, which includes Donetsk.
12:21 Medvedev Warns of Apocalyptic Destruction for Kyiv Former Russian President Dmitri Medvedev hints at the complete annihilation of the Ukrainian capital Kyiv. Russia allegedly has the legal justification to use nuclear weapons due to Ukraine's incursion into the Russian territory of Kursk, although Russia has thus far refrained from doing so. In retaliation to Ukraine's use of long-range Western missiles, Russia could turn Kyiv into a massive, molten wasteland using its modern, non-nuclear weaponry, according to Medvedev. Medvedev serves as the deputy chairman of the Russian Security Council and has frequently employed harsh language against the West and Ukraine.
11:50 Epic Battles Rage on in Kurakhove Intense fighting in eastern Ukraine is currently centered around the city of Kurakhove, as per reports. The public's growing frustration with the use of European long-range weapons is causing unrest. ntv correspondent Kavita Sharma reports from Dnipro.
11:12 Drone Attacks Cause Damage in Odessa's Black Sea Region Details of the widespread drone attack that occurred the previous night are emerging. According to Ukrainian air force reports, Russia launched a total of 76 combat drones. Of these, 72 were shot down. The air force is not disclosing any information about the repercussions of the attack. The governor of Odessa's Black Sea region reports extensive damage. Several buildings in Odessa's suburb were damaged due to drone debris. Warehouses were hit in the Ismajil district, through which Ukraine transports some of its grain. Debris fragments also fell in Kyiv. A city enterprise was hit, but no fire was reported.
10:31 Stoltenberg on Meeting Prior to War's Commencement: Russians Presented Falsified NATO Maps Outgoing NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, in an interview with the "Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung," discusses the last diplomatic attempts to deter Russia from invading Ukraine before the war commenced in February 2022. The final meeting of the NATO-Russia Council, which Stoltenberg presided over, took place in January. The Russians demanded the withdrawal of all NATO troops from the eastern part of the alliance, which was "completely unacceptable" to NATO, but Stoltenberg believed in dialogue and agreed to another meeting. During the meeting, the Russian deputy foreign and defense ministers claimed that there were no war plans on their part and that their country was threatened by Ukraine. They presented maps to allegedly illustrate how Russia was surrounded by NATO, but even these maps were flawed, failing to mark Denmark as NATO territory. Stoltenberg is uncertain whether this was due to poor preparation or intentional. Looking back, he regrets that NATO and its allies did not do more to bolster Ukraine's military capabilities earlier. "If Ukraine had been militarily stronger, the threshold for Russia to attack would have been higher. Whether it would have been high enough is impossible to say."
10:03 Wiegold on Stationing Agreement: Lithuania Sees German Combat Brigade as Support Germany and Lithuania sign an agreement guaranteeing that a deployable German brigade will be stationed in Lithuania. Military expert Thomas Wiegold explains the background and significance of the agreement in an interview with ntv.
09:28 Kim Eager to Enhance Cooperation with Russia North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has reportedly pledged to increase cooperation with Russia, according to state media. After discussions between Kim and Russian Security Council chief Sergei Shoigu in North Korea, state media report that there was an in-depth discussion on "strengthening the strategic dialogue between the two countries and enhancing cooperation to protect their mutual security interests" as well as the regional and international situation. Ukraine, the US, and South Korea accuse North Korea of supplying Russia with weapons and missiles for the Ukraine war. Pyongyang denies these allegations as "preposterous."
08:59 Extended-range Weapons for Ukraine? Starmer and Biden to Discuss Again at UN General Assembly There is soon to be another discussion on whether Ukraine should be authorized to use extended-range Western weapons against targets in Russia. British Prime Minister Starmer announced this after a meeting with US President Biden, during which they delayed a decision on the issue. Biden and he will discuss it at the UN General Assembly in New York next week "with a larger group of people," Starmer says. British media report that Biden is willing to allow Ukraine to use British and French rockets with US technology - but not US-made rockets themselves.
08:23 Zelensky on Trump's alleged proposition: "Election talks are election talks"US presidential candidate from the Republican party, Donald Trump, has continuously suggested that he could bring an end to the conflict in Ukraine within a day, but without providing a concrete strategy. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is questioned in a CNN interview about his interpretation of Trump's statement. Zelensky states, "I can't comprehend it today since I'm unaware of the specifics behind his statement and its meaning." The interview is scheduled to air on Sunday. He clarifies that an American election campaign is currently underway. "And election speeches are election speeches," he adds. "Oftentimes, they're not grounded in reality." Zelensky also mentions that he had a conversation with Trump two months back. During this conversation, Trump pledged his support for Ukraine, according to Zelensky. The conversation was reported to be positive.
07:27 ISW: More soldiers required in Kursk to push out UkrainiansRussia is still conducting counterattacks in the Kursk region, but the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) has not yet recognized a major operation aimed at completely expelling the Ukrainians from Kursk. The ISW, located in Washington, shares that so far, Russian authorities have primarily relied on poorly trained and equipped conscripts, apart from small parts of the regular Russian armed forces and other security forces in the border region. The think tank suggests, "A Russian counteroffensive to reclaim the territory captured by Ukrainian forces in the Kursk Oblast will likely necessitate even more personnel and resources than Russia has already amassed in this area – specifically if most of the deployed units lack combat experience."
06:49 Ukraine Under Drone Attacks
As per the Ukrainian military, Russia has targeted Ukraine with Shahed drones throughout the night. The Russian army has launched numerous groups of attack drones, according to the Ukrainian air force. Air alerts were activated in almost all regions. For instance, in the Odessa region. The navy reported downing nine drones there. In the city of Odessa, explosions were heard, as confirmed by the mayor. No casualties have been reported yet.
06:13 Mützenich Proposes International Peace Group
SPD faction leader Rolf Mützenich is advocating for an international peace contact group to initiate peace talks in the Ukraine conflict. "In my opinion, this is now the right time for the Western allies to launch a peace initiative," he told the "Rheinische Post". "German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky agree that it's an opportune moment to intensify peace talks efforts, with Russia's participation in the next peace summit," Mützenich added. When asked about potential members of such a contact group, Mützenich suggested countries like China, India, Turkey, and Brazil as suitable candidates. He believes that the work of such a contact group "could indeed be promising" and may play a significant mediating role.
05:41 EU Considering New Sanctions Extension Strategies
As per EU diplomats, the EU Commission is pondering over three alternatives for extending future sanctions against Russia. These scenarios were presented to European diplomats on Friday, according to several insiders. The backdrop is the frozen assets of the Russian central bank, which hold significant value in granting a mega-credit of $50 billion from the G7 to Ukraine. These assets have been frozen since the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
03:40 Klitschko: Drone Debris Hits Kyiv Buildings
Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko shared via the Telegram messaging app that drone debris struck a city building in the Ukrainian capital. The debris hit a municipal building in the Kyiv district of Obolon north of the city center in the early hours of the morning. Klitschko mentioned that emergency services were heading to the scene. Earlier, the mayor had reported that air defense units were active in the capital.
01:35 Kim Jong Un Promises More Cooperation with Shoigu
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has promised Russian Security Council Secretary Sergei Shoigu greater collaboration. As the state news agency KCNA reports, the two men had a detailed conversation during Shoigu's visit to Pyongyang and reached a satisfactory understanding on issues related to closer "cooperation to protect mutual security interests". Shoigu, who was still Russia's defense minister until May, had proposed closer ties between North Korea and Russia during his visit to Pyongyang in July last year.
23:36 Zelensky to Present "Victory Plan" to Biden in SeptemberUkrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has announced a September meeting with US President Joe Biden, stating, "I will present the plan for victory." Speaking in Kyiv, the head of state revealed that the plan involves a collective decision-making system to equip Ukraine with the necessary forces to steer the war towards peace. "Such wars can be justly concluded in various ways: either the occupying army is forced out by force or diplomacy," Zelensky explained, emphasizing that this would guarantee Ukraine's genuine independence. However, Kyiv depends on US assistance to attain this strong stance.
10:59 Shift in Russian Attack Strategy Towards SouthAs per the Ukrainian military, intense clashes persist in the eastern region of the nation, with 115 instances recorded in the evening briefing from Kyiv. The most intense battles occurred near Kurachove, while the enemy was also active near Lyman and Pokrovsk. Pokrovsk used to be the primary target of Russian forces, but they've only made modest territorial gains lately. Instead, they've broadened their offensive front towards the south, aiming to seize the mining town of Hirnyk near Kurachove.
21:48 Zelensky: Advance in Kursk Provides Desired OutcomeUkrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky asserts that Ukraine's advance into the Russian region of Kursk has resulted in the desired outcome. In the Kharkiv region, the enemy has been halted, and the Russian advance in Donetsk has slowed down. Russia hasn't scored any significant victories in its counteroffensive in Kursk so far. Previously, experts had doubts about the redeployment of substantial Russian troop formations from Donetsk and other areas to Kursk. Russia claims to have reclaimed 10 out of 100 occupied villages.
20:46 "Fear Prevails" - Zelensky's Criticism of Western AlliesUkrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky accuses the West of being "afraid" when it comes to aiding Ukraine in countering Russian missiles. "If allies can collaborate to shoot down missiles and drones in the Middle East, what's stopping them from doing the same in Ukraine's skies? They're reluctant to even mention 'We're working on it.' This happens even when missiles and drones are heading directly towards our neighbors,'" Zelensky said at a conference in Kyiv. "This is a disgrace for the democratic world," the Ukrainian leader added.
21:14 Russia Deploys Over 8,000 Iranian DronesAccording to the Kyiv government, Russia has launched 8060 Iranian Shahed drones against Ukraine since the war began. No statements from Iran or Russia have been issued yet. Ukraine first accused the Iranian government of providing the kamikaze drones to Russia in the fall of 2022.
20:03 Uncertainty Over Long-Range Weapons Permit for UkraineIn Washington, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and US President Joe Biden are scheduled to meet. The world is anticipating any announcements concerning the approval of long-range weapons for Ukraine. According to reports from the British "Guardian," the UK has allowed Ukraine to conduct attacks using Storm-Shadow missiles. However, no official announcements will be made about this topic during today's meeting between the two allies. "I wouldn't expect an announcement today about the use of long-range weapons within Russia - certainly not from the US," says the Communications Director of the National Security Council, John Kirby. He only comments that they are continuing discussions with the UK, France, and other allies "regarding the type of capabilities that will be provided to Ukraine." Kirby also avoids providing a clear answer when asked if the US government will make any changes. "I'm not going to participate in a hypothetical discussion about what we will or won't say at a certain point in time."
Catch up on previous developments [here].
The European Union is closely monitoring Pyongyang's weapons shipments to Moscow due to concerns over their impact on the battlefield.
At the Yalta European Strategy (YES) conference in Kyiv, Ukrainian Intelligence Chief Kyrylo Budanow stated, "The European Union is following North Korea's weapons shipments to Moscow with great interest and concern." He added that the EU is closely monitoring any developments in this regard and is ready to take necessary action if required. The EU's position on this issue has not been clarified yet, but it is evident that they are keeping a close eye on the situation.