Espreso. Global
Updated

Ukraine offers POW exchange with North Korea to secure soldiers from Russian captivity, Kremlin reacts

13 January, 2025 Monday
16:36

Ukraine is willing to transfer captured soldiers to North Korea if Kim Jong Un can arrange an exchange for Ukrainian soldiers held by Russia

client/title.list_title

President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy reported this on Telegram.

"Alongside the first captured North Korean soldiers, there will undoubtedly be more. It's only a matter of time before our troops capture others. No one in the world should doubt that the Russian army relies on military assistance from North Korea. Three years ago, Putin started with ultimatums to NATO and attempts to rewrite history, and now he cannot do without military aid from Pyongyang," emphasized Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

He also stated that "Ukraine is ready to transfer Kim Jong Un’s people to him if he can arrange their exchange for our soldiers who are held captive in Russia."

"For those North Korean soldiers who do not wish to return, there may be other options. Specifically, those Koreans who wish to promote peace by spreading the truth about this war in the Korean language will be given that opportunity," the President of Ukraine added.

Zelenskyy also shared a video of the interrogation of captured North Korean soldiers taken prisoner in the Kursk region.

Kremlin's reaction

On January 13, Russian presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters that he could not comment on Zelenskyy's statement.

“We can't comment on it in any way, we don't know what is true, who offered what to whom,” Interfax quoted him as saying.

  • Ukrainian forces captured two wounded DPRK soldiers in the Kursk region and brought them to Kyiv, where the SBU is interrogating them.
Tags:
Read also:
  • News
2025, Saturday
15 February
19:45
U.S. to mediate Ukraine-Russia talks, no direct role for Europe — Kellogg
19:23
Russia ramps up attacks on Ukraine to boost leverage as Munich Conference unfolds
19:00
Exclusive
U.S. lacks capacity to counter Russia, China — diplomat
18:37
Exclusive
Fixing frontline doesn’t mean renouncing Ukraine’s 1991 borders — diplomat Fried
18:19
Trump envoy Kellogg pledges 180 days to end war in Ukraine
18:00
Russia must withdraw to Ukraine’s pre-full-scale invasion borders — Zelenskyy
17:41
Trump team proposes deploying U.S. troops to protect Ukraine’s rare earth mineral deposits
17:17
OPINION
Trump doesn’t like Zelenskyy: how presidential sympathies may shape Ukraine's future
16:50
Exclusive
U.S. pledges air support for Europe if Russia launches new offensive — diplomat Fried
16:29
Putin reportedly planning 'end of Ukraine war' concert in Moscow this summer
16:08
Exclusive
Ukrainian territory concessions may trigger Russian aggression in Baltic states — diplomat
15:45
Group of European countries quietly drafting plan to deploy troops to Ukraine
15:24
OPINION
Trump's election proposal for Ukraine may play right into Putin's hands
15:02
Exclusive
Ukraine Russia war live map, January 29 – February 5
Russian forces intensify attempts to cross Oskil River using boats, makeshift rafts — Achilles Regiment
14:41
Human rights organizations react to Zelenskyy’s sanctions on Poroshenko, Zhevago, Kolomoisky, Bogolyubov
14:23
Ukraine wouldn’t have lost 4,000 km² of territory if U.S. hadn’t delayed aid — Zelenskyy
14:00
'Without Ukraine’s army, Europe alone can’t stop Russia': Zelenskyy calls for creation of European Armed Forces
13:52
Exclusive
Ukrainian woman takes her life to avoid collaborating with Russian forces in occupied Kherson
13:29
Review
Ukrainians learn to defend against guided bombs: how Soviet-era ZU-23-2 guns help counter Russian threat
13:07
Review
Ukraine must expand its army to 1.5 million troops without U.S., EU security guarantees. Serhiy Zgurets' column
12:45
Exclusive
Trump administration caves to all of Putin’s demands on Ukraine — political analyst
12:27
OPINION
Zelenskyy fears both Trump and his own people
12:10
Hungary blocks launch of Ukraine’s EU membership talks
11:53
Ukraine reports 112 clashes at front on Feb. 14, repels 36 Russian assaults in Pokrovsk sector
11:31
Russia reports drone attack on 4 regions: fire breaks out at industrial site in Kaluga
11:14
Ukrainian Air Force strikes Russian platoon strongpoint in Kursk region
10:56
Exclusive
White House sees Europe, not Russia, as key rival: international journalist on Munich Conference
10:35
Russia loses 1,180 soldiers, 59 artillery systems, air defense system in one day of war in Ukraine
2025, Friday
14 February
22:53
Russians angered by lack of official updates on Bryansk explosions – Ukraine's intel
22:38
We seek lasting peace: U.S. VP Vance after meeting Zelenskyy as Ukrainian president ready for “real peace”
22:13
Writers from Ukraine, Poland, Germany, and Kazakhstan withdraw from Indian festival in protest of Russian participants
22:00
Exclusive
Chornobyl NPP attack: Consequences of Russia's strike have been contained
21:52
Chornobyl NPP safety at risk: History of protective arch and its ability to withstand impacts
21:33
Ukraine to be immediately accepted into NATO if Russia attacks again, says Senator Graham
21:15
Moldova hopes for Russian troop withdrawal from Transnistria as part of Ukraine peace talks
20:55
Exclusive
Europe realizes it must shoulder lion's share of responsibility — Ukraine's former PM
20:30
U.S. has never seen Ukraine in NATO, Zelenskyy says
20:14
Ukraine reveals details of experimental contract with Armed Forces for citizens under 25
19:51
“We’re more confident than before”: Zelenskyy reports improvement on critical Pokrovsk front
19:32
Russia's military transport aviation in crisis: Challenges and failures
More news