Russia should release Ukrainian soldiers, then we will return your soldiers

  • Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s proposal to North Korea

  • North Korean military is helping Russia in its ongoing war with Ukraine

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky

Kyiv (Ukraine) – Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky says he is willing to hand over two captured North Korean soldiers to Pyongyang in exchange for Ukrainian prisoners of war in Russia. “For those North Korean soldiers who do not wish to return, there may be other options available,” Zelensky said on X. Those who want ” to bring peace closer by spreading the truth about this war in Korea will be given that opportunity”, he added.

Zelensky said on Sunday, “There should be no doubt left that the Russian army is dependent on military assistance from North Korea. Russian President Vladimir Putin started the war three years ago by warning NATO (a military alliance of the United States and 29 countries in Europe) and trying to rewrite history, but now Russia cannot function without North Korea’s military support.”

Ukraine and South Korea reported late last year that North Korea had sent at least 10,000 troops to Russia. South Korea’s National Intelligence Service said on Monday that more than 300 North Korean soldiers have died while fighting for Russia, and at least 2,700 of them have been wounded. In December, South Korea’s intelligence agency reported that a North Korean soldier believed to have been the first to be captured while supporting Russia’s war in Ukraine had died after being taken alive by Ukrainian forces.