UPDATE ON THE SITUATION – Some 11,000 North Korean troops are reportedly already deployed in Russia and have begun fighting against Ukrainian forces in the Kursk region.
Ukrainian authorities are warning this Wednesday of the possibility of a major Russian air attack, which could affect the entire territory, including the capital kyiv. On land, North Korean soldiers would be “engaged in combat operations” alongside Moscow, according to the United States. Le Figaro takes stock of the latest events linked to the conflict.
North Koreans “engaged in combat operations” with Russia
The United States confirmed on Tuesday November 12 that North Korean troops were “engaged in combat operations» alongside Russian soldiers in the Russian region of Kursk, a small part of which is occupied by Ukrainian forces, corroborating kyiv's accusations. “I can confirm that more than 10,000 North Korean troops sent to Russia most arrived in the Kursk region, where they began to engage in combat operations with Russian forces“, declared Tuesday the spokesperson of the American Department of State, Vedant Patel, emphasizing “worry» of the United States regarding this alliance.
According to kyiv, some 11,000 North Korean soldiers are already deployed in Russia and have started fighting against Ukrainian forces in the Kursk region where the latter have been on the offensive since August. This deployment greatly worries Western countries which support Ukraine.
Air alert across Ukraine, kyiv fears missile attack on capital
Ukrainian authorities launched a country-wide air alert on Wednesday, facing, according to its presidency, a Russian missile attack on its capital, kyiv.
Russian President VladimirPutin is launching a missile attack on kyiv», wrote on Telegram Andriy Yermak, the chief of staff of the head of state Volodymyr Zelensky.
Antony Blinken puts pressure on Europeans
Antony Blinken, whose days are numbered at the head of American diplomacy, meets NATO and European Union officials in Brussels on Wednesday in order to accelerate aid to Ukraine, potentially threatened by the return of Donald Trump. Arriving late Tuesday evening for a visit of less than 24 hours, the Secretary of State is due to have meetings with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte and with his Ukrainian counterparts Andriï Sybiga and the EU Josep Borrell as well as with Kaja Kallas who will succeed Mr. Borrell in a few weeks.
The EU must support Ukraine “for as long as necessary, with as much military, financial and humanitarian aid as necessary», Launched the latter on Tuesday during her hearing before European parliamentarians. Mr. Blinken's trip to the Belgian capital takes on an urgent nature, against a backdrop of concerns from Ukraine and many capitals on the Old Continent regarding the sustainability of support for kyiv after the re-election of Donald Trump on November 5, to which is added a political crisis in Germany.
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Especially since the former President of the United States, who will return to the White House on January 20, is already on the move: he spoke with the Ukrainian head of state Volodymyr Zelensky, as well as with Russian President Vladimir Putin to ask him not to provoke an escalation in the war, according to the daily Washington Post. The Kremlin denied that the two men spoke to each other, a “pure invention”, insisted Moscow.
