Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky gives a press conference on the sidelines of the European Council Summit in Brussels, Belgium, on Oct. 17, 2024.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said North Korea is preparing to send 10,000 troops to assist Russia in its war against Ukraine, suggesting a deepening military collaboration between Moscow and Pyongyang.

“We are aware that 10,000 North Korean soldiers are poised to be deployed against us,” Zelensky informed reporters in Brussels on Thursday. Ukrainian officials have been asserting for weeks that North Korean soldiers are engaged in the fighting in Ukraine, albeit without presenting any evidence.

U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Kurt Campbell earlier this week indicated signs of increased material support from North Korea to Russia, including artillery shells and missiles, though reports of troop deployments are still under evaluation.

However, speaking alongside Zelensky at a separate press conference, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte stated that there is no evidence of North Korean soldiers participating in the conflict.

Russia last week dismissed reports of North Korean troop deployment as “another fabrication.”

If confirmed, the deployment would represent a significant step in Pyongyang’s cooperation with Moscow, following an agreement in June between Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un to provide immediate military assistance if either nation is attacked. North Korea maintains a standing army of approximately 1.28 million troops, according to South Korea’s defense white paper.

Washington and Seoul have accused Kim of supplying artillery shells and ballistic missiles to Russia to support the Kremlin, accusations that both Pyongyang and Moscow deny.

In exchange for the arms, Russia has reportedly sent aid that has bolstered North Korea’s economy and aided Kim in advancing his weapons programs, according to Seoul and Washington.

Zelensky’s remarks come at a time when Western governments are facing challenges in maintaining public support for Kyiv’s fight against Russia, which has now stretched for over two and a half years. This wariness has led to pressure on Zelensky to begin considering an endgame to the conflict.

Zelensky presented his “victory plan” to lawmakers in Kyiv on Wednesday, outlining his conditions for a potential end to Russia’s invasion. He reiterated his refusal to concede on territorial gains or participate in a process that would result in a frozen conflict.