Pyongyang is believed to have sent some 11,000 soldiers to help Putin’s army recapture a swathe of the Kursk region of Russia which Ukrainian forces seized in a surprise attack last summer. The Russian military has been gradually gaining ground in the attempt to force Ukrainian units out of Kursk.

South Korea's National Intelligence Service has reportedly confirmed that North Korea has withdrawn its troops from the frontline in Russia's Kursk region after entering the war late last year

North Korean soldiers sent to fight in Russia's Kursk region haven't been seen for several weeks, reports say.

Russian President Vladimir Putin and U.S. President Donald Trump have yet to discuss a possible meeting, CNN quoted Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov as saying.

Former U.S. Ambassador Michael McFaul and investigative journalist Roman Anin dissect Trump and Putin’s shared traits, warn against rushed Ukraine negotiations and underscore the critical role of journalists in countering an era of misinformation.

Preparations for a meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and U.S. President Donald Trump are at an "advanced stage", Russian state news agency RIA quoted a senior lawmaker as saying on Thursday.

That will take some doing. Putin remains uninterested in peace talks as long as Russian troops continue to gain ground in Ukraine’s east, albeit at a slow pace, and while Ukrainian forces hold seized territory in the Kursk region inside Russia, according to John Herbst, a former U.S. ambassador to Ukraine, and other former officials.

The President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelensky, stated that Donald Trump has not yet presented an official plan to end the war with Russia. He also emphasized that he is ready to engage in talks with Putin if they lead to ending the war.

U.S. President Donald Trump does not have an official plan to end Russia's full-scale war against Ukraine, President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Feb. 6, Interfax-Ukraine reported. "There is no official plan yet.