Ukrainian President Zelenskyy demands that Russia must be forced to the negotiating table. North Korea denies supplying Moscow with artillery ammunition. All developments in the live blog.
2:36 a.m
Zelenskyj: Russia must be forced to the negotiating table
According to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, Russia must be forced into serious peace talks. “Russia’s destabilizing influence is confronting the world with war, energy and food crises and the destruction of normal international relations,” Zelenskyy said in his nightly video address.
The climate agenda, “I really suffer”, but cannot be put on hold. “Those who are serious about the climate agenda must also be serious about the need to stop Russian aggression immediately, restore our territorial integrity and force Russia into genuine peace negotiations.” According to Presidential Advisor Mykhailo Podoliak, Ukraine is ready to negotiate with Russia – but only with President Vladimir Putin’s future successor.
2:36 a.m
North Korea denies supplying artillery ammunition to Russia
North Korea has denied US allegations that it secretly sent artillery shells to Russia for the war against Ukraine. The state news agency KCNA quoted a deputy department head in North Korea’s defense ministry as saying that these were “unfounded” rumors that the United States was spreading in order to damage North Korea’s international reputation. North Korea does not have any arms deals with Russia and has “no intention of doing so in the future,” the statement said.
US National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said Wednesday that North Korea had shipped a “significant” quantity of ammunition to Russia and was trying to create the impression that the shipments were destined for the Middle East or North Africa. According to Kirby, however, it was unclear whether the ammunition arrived in Russia: “We will continue to monitor whether the deliveries are received,” he said.