Russia remains committed to prolonged war, rejects energy ceasefire talks — ISW

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced on Wednesday that his country has sent two North Korean prisoners of war to South Korea, following months of discussions between Kyiv and Seoul. These soldiers were captured in Russia's Kursk region in 2025, during Russia's war on Ukraine. South Korea's Foreign Ministry did not confirm Zelenskyy's statement directly, but emphasized that they had been consulting with Kyiv and other relevant parties to handle the situation in a way that respects the soldiers' free will and adheres to international law and humanitarian principles.

The ministry declined to provide details about the soldiers' location, the timing or route of their transfer, and the specifics of their consultations, deeming it a sensitive matter concerning the safety of the soldiers and their families. Zelenskyy stated that one of the soldiers attempted suicide when he realized he was going to be taken prisoner, suggesting that conditions in North Korea are harsh.

North Korea has provided Russia with significant quantities of weapons, including artillery shells and ballistic missiles, while strengthening its nuclear-armed military and pursuing a more aggressive foreign policy. South Korea, along with the U.S. and its allies, remains concerned that Russia might exchange high-tech technologies for the soldiers' release, potentially enhancing North Korea's nuclear and missile programs.