Zelenskyy admits 'tense' situation for Ukraine's armed forces in Donetsk and Kharkiv regions

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy admitted on Friday that the situation on the battlefield is "tense" for his nation's armed forces, especially in the eastern Donetsk and Kharkiv regions.

In a statement on Telegram, Zelenskyy said his assessments were based on reports received from Ukraine's commander-in-chief Oleksandr Syrskyi.

The Ukrainian leader said that according to the intelligence data, units of the North Korean military will engage in the fighting on Russia's side next week.

"The actual involvement of North Korea in combat activities should receive a response, not in the form of not closed eyes and confused comments, but tangible pressure on both Moscow and Pyongyang to comply with the UN Charter and punish escalation," he stressed.

Zelenskyy said Ukraine's incursion of Kursk continues, and Ukraine's armed forces "are implementing their tasks."

Asked about the North Korean military in Russia at a news conference in Kazan on Thursday, President Vladimir Putin neither confirmed nor denied their presence.

Putin said Russia and North Korea signed the Treaty on Strategic Partnership under Article 4 and the two countries pledged to provide each other military assistance.

"However, it is up to us to decide what we will do and how we are going to do it, and we will act in accordance with this article. First, we need to hold talks regarding the implementation of Article 4. However, we will be in contact with our North Korean friends to see how this process unfolds," he said.