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Russia has formed an alliance with Iran and North Korea, which could pose a threat to the United States, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said.
He stated this in an interview with The Associated Press, according to Ukrinform.
“For the first time in decades, Russia has officially demonstrated its alliance by involving Iran and North Korea. Yes, they had relations before, exchanging technology, weapons, and so on, but now they have actively brought them into the war. Iran is supplying weapons, North Korea is providing both weapons and troops. This is a separate alliance. As of today, North Korea, Russia, and Iran form a concrete alliance against Ukraine and the entire West. I believe this is, in fact, an alliance against the United States. This is a very dangerous alliance. These three countries, aside from being nuclear powers, are highly escalatory states, and they are certainly not about peace. They are now united, they are strategic partners. They have effectively merged their defense industries, and they will continue to expand and increase weapons production,” Zelenskyy said.
He also noted that North Korean troops currently stationed in Russia’s Kursk region are gaining combat experience in the war against Ukraine and will bring this experience back to their region.
“This is happening now, and it is very dangerous for the United States and for many countries in that region,” Zelenskyy said.
Earlier reports said that North Korean troops fighting on Russia’s side in the Kursk region had been undergoing rotations due to heavy personnel losses. The Ukrainian Special Operations Forces confirmed that no presence of North Korean troops has been detected in the Kursk region for about three weeks.
There are no indications that the United States or the European Union will stop providing aid to Ukraine, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said.
“So far, we have received no signals that U.S. support will stop. This is important, and we are grateful for it. Likewise, there is no indication that European Union countries, especially the United Kingdom, will stop their assistance. All this aid is backed by our bilateral agreements and security guarantees, which include financial and military support. Currently, our military capabilities consist of approximately 40% of domestic production (projected for 2025), with the remaining share split between European nations (just over 30%) and the United States (also just over 30%). If any of these sources falter, it is easy to calculate how much strength we stand to lose,” Zelenskyy said.
He stressed that Ukraine’s domestic defense production is expanding and plays a crucial role in strengthening the country’s military.
“Domestic production is vital because battlefield conditions are constantly evolving. Technological advancements require immediate adaptation, and we cannot always wait for aid from the West, the U.S., or Europe. For example, drones and electronic warfare systems are changing rapidly. That’s why we rely on our own capabilities. However, to sustain this, we need continued financial support from our partners, ensuring that funding for domestic production remains steady,” Zelenskyy said.
For now, he added, there are no signs that this assistance will be reduced or blocked.
Kursk operation played a crucial role in preventing the occupation of Sumy and Kharkiv.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated this in an interview with the Associated Press, as reported by Ukrinform.
“This operation helped us in a key way. We faced a significant risk that, by today, the cities of Sumy and Kharkiv could have been either under constant heavy shelling or partially occupied. This was a truly preventive operation, a very smart move, and it was unexpected. We did not hold consultations or meetings with any partners. We made a quick decision,” Zelenskyy emphasized.
He added that information about Kursk operation was not widely shared within the intelligence community or the Ukrainian military. Specific brigades were selected for the mission, and the preventive strike was carried out by a relatively small force.
However, according to Zelenskyy, the preparation for this operation was complex.
“This is an important operation. Today, Sumy and Kharkiv are not completely safe, as they are still being targeted by missile and guided bomb strikes. But we achieved our goal — we disrupted Russia’s plans for another offensive from the north,” he stressed.
As previously reported by Ukrinform, NATO headquarters in Belgium recently hosted a screening of the documentary film “Operation Kursk”.
Read also: Top NATO Military Official Comments on Trump’s Demand for 5% of GDP Defense Spending
