Sarah Rainsford

As Prime Minister, Kyrgyzstan hasn't rushed to Kyiv. It took him six months. But he came here today to say Ukraine and Britain were closer than ever. Allies against what he called Russia's barbaric invasion. And as he and Volodymyr Zelensky held talks, there was a reminder of the daily danger. A Russian drone overhead, then the air defences. The timing of this trip is important.

Just before Donald Trump returns to the White House, a man far less clear in his support for Kyiv.

Just before Donald Trump returns to the White House, a man far less clear in his support for Kyiv.

President Zelensky stressed today that those security guarantees must include joining NATO. Both men say Ukraine can only consider any peace talks with Russia from a position of strength. That means more time and more aid from its allies. And Donald Trump may not agree with that.

President Zelensky stressed today that those security guarantees must include joining NATO. Both men say Ukraine can only consider any peace talks with Russia from a position of strength. That means more time and more aid from its allies. And Donald Trump may not agree with that.

He's offering to swap these two men from North Korea to hand them over to Pyongyang if North Korea can arrange for Ukrainian prisoners of war to be returned to Ukraine. from Russia. So essentially a prisoner swap. But of course, this is with a country that doesn't acknowledge deploying its troops to Russia to fight alongside Russian troops against Ukraine.

He's offering to swap these two men from North Korea to hand them over to Pyongyang if North Korea can arrange for Ukrainian prisoners of war to be returned to Ukraine. from Russia. So essentially a prisoner swap. But of course, this is with a country that doesn't acknowledge deploying its troops to Russia to fight alongside Russian troops against Ukraine.

And Russia also has not actually confirmed that North Korean troops are fighting. And in fact, It looks pretty clear now that Ukraine's claim that these North Korean troops are being deployed with fake Russian military ID is actually true. When these two North Koreans were captured, Ukraine presented a Russian military document and it was in the name of a Russian citizen born in Siberia.

And Russia also has not actually confirmed that North Korean troops are fighting. And in fact, It looks pretty clear now that Ukraine's claim that these North Korean troops are being deployed with fake Russian military ID is actually true. When these two North Koreans were captured, Ukraine presented a Russian military document and it was in the name of a Russian citizen born in Siberia.

But watching a video of the two men who've been taken captive, they are speaking Korean and And they do appear to confirm that they are North Korean professional soldiers. So it does seem that Russia is trying to hide the fact that it's using foreign forces for its war with Ukraine. And is this this new video posted by Kiev? Yes. That's right.

But watching a video of the two men who've been taken captive, they are speaking Korean and And they do appear to confirm that they are North Korean professional soldiers. So it does seem that Russia is trying to hide the fact that it's using foreign forces for its war with Ukraine. And is this this new video posted by Kiev? Yes. That's right.

I mean, we have to say, first of all, that this is a video that's been filmed by Ukraine's intelligence service. We can't speak to these people freely or independently. They are prisoners of war. One of them, frankly, looks terrified as he's speaking. He winces with pain as he's

I mean, we have to say, first of all, that this is a video that's been filmed by Ukraine's intelligence service. We can't speak to these people freely or independently. They are prisoners of war. One of them, frankly, looks terrified as he's speaking. He winces with pain as he's

Under interrogation, essentially, and being filmed, this soldier says that he was involved in a military offensive on the 3rd of January, that he saw soldiers die and then he hid. And a couple of days later, he was taken captive. He says he doesn't know where he is right now. And when he's asked if he wants to go back to North Korea, he actually says no, he wants to stay here. in Ukraine.

Under interrogation, essentially, and being filmed, this soldier says that he was involved in a military offensive on the 3rd of January, that he saw soldiers die and then he hid. And a couple of days later, he was taken captive. He says he doesn't know where he is right now. And when he's asked if he wants to go back to North Korea, he actually says no, he wants to stay here. in Ukraine.

And he's speaking all the time through an interpreter, which Ukraine's intelligence agency says has been provided by South Korean intelligence. So rather difficult circumstances for anyone to be speaking in. But that is what he has said so far.

And he's speaking all the time through an interpreter, which Ukraine's intelligence agency says has been provided by South Korean intelligence. So rather difficult circumstances for anyone to be speaking in. But that is what he has said so far.

Yeah, and I think in a way that was kind of somewhat empty words from President Zelensky. It was more, I think, a political point he was trying to make because, of course, Ukraine already has a lot of Russian prisoners of war and Russia and Ukraine do conduct swaps, exchanges of prisoners of war every few weeks, every few months, fairly regularly.

Yeah, and I think in a way that was kind of somewhat empty words from President Zelensky. It was more, I think, a political point he was trying to make because, of course, Ukraine already has a lot of Russian prisoners of war and Russia and Ukraine do conduct swaps, exchanges of prisoners of war every few weeks, every few months, fairly regularly.

So I guess they don't necessarily need to swap the North Koreans in order to get prisoners. the Ukrainian soldiers back. I think he was more making a point that he has these men and showing it as proof. And he was also, I think, trying to underline Ukraine's interpretation of the fact that Russia is using North Koreans.