Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky says he is willing to hand over two captured soldiers from North Korea back to their home country in exchange for Ukrainian prisoners of war in Russia.
“For those North Korean soldiers who do not wish to return, there may be other options available,” Zelensky said on social media, adding “those who express a desire to bring peace closer by spreading the truth about this war in Korean will be given that opportunity”.
Ukraine said on Saturday that the men were captured on 9 January.
When asked last year, President Vladimir Putin did not deny Russia was using North Korean troops in its war on Ukraine, saying it was Russia’s “sovereign decision”.