The US accused North Korea of providing missiles to the Wagner group and claimed that the first delivery of weapons had been made, while both North Korea and the Wagner group denied the claim. The repercussions of Zelensky’s visit to the US continue in Russia…
The US accused North Korea of supplying missiles to the Wagner group for use in Ukraine.
The White House argued that the supply of ammunition violated UN Security Council resolutions and announced broader sanctions against Wagner.
The North Korean government and Wagner denied the reports.
The UK government said it had increased the number of Wagner mercenaries in Ukraine from 1,000 to 20,000.
FIRST DELIVERY ARRIVES
White House National Security Spokesman John Kirby told reporters, “Wagner is seeking arms suppliers around the world to support its military operation in Ukraine.”
Kirby said North Korea had delivered the first delivery to the Wagner group in exchange for payment.
The White House said Wagner had purchased infantry-class rockets and missiles from North Korea.
According to Kirby, Wagner, which also competes with the Russian military, spends more than $100 million every month in Ukraine.
ENGLAND AGREES
British Foreign Secretary James Cleverly said Britain agreed with Washington’s assessment.
“Russia turning to North Korea for help is a sign of Moscow’s desperation and isolation,” Cleverly said in a statement.
NORTH KOREA AND WAGNER DENY
However, Wagner’s owner Yevgeny Prigozhin called the claim “rumor and speculation”.
The North Korean Foreign Ministry also dismissed the reports as “baseless”.
A North Korean spokesperson said that “their position has not changed” and that the alleged arms exchange between North Korea and Russia “never took place”.
RUSSIA’S REACTION TO USA
On the other hand, the repercussions of Zelenski’s visit to the US continue in Russia.
However, Russian Ambassador to the US Anatoly Antonov said that the developments, which he described as “provocative actions”, would lead to an escalation with serious consequences.
Speaking to Russian state media, Antonov said Moscow was “trying to resort to common sense at all levels,” but that the talk of delivering the Patriot missile system to Kiev caused “deep discomfort.”
“THEY INTEND TO CONTINUE THE WAR”
While Moscow emphasized that Zelensky’s visit to the United States did not include any call for peace, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov described it as proof that the United States is waging a proxy war with Russia.
Peskov added that the Patriot missiles will not prevent Russia from achieving its goals.
Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said, “The talks in Washington showed that neither the United States nor Ukraine are seeking peace. They only intend to continue the war.”
