North Korea acknowledged for the first time Monday that it had provided troop reinforcements to aid Russia in its war on Ukraine.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has claimed that his country has regained control of Kursk, the border region where Ukraine launched a surprise offensive last year, though Ukraine’s army says fighting continues.

North Korea confirmed for the first time on Monday that it has sent troops to fight for Russia in the war with Ukraine under the order of leader Kim Jong-un and made an important contribution to the liberation of Russian territory occupied by Ukraine.

Officials say Ukraine and Russia have targeted each other with long-range strikes amid continuing uncertainty about whether an agreement to stop their more than three-year war is within reach

Russia said on Monday it was waiting for a signal from Ukraine regarding Kyiv's willingness to hold direct negotiations to end the war, but said it did not so far see any signs of movement. The Kremlin said last Friday that the possibility of direct talks between the two sides had been raised during a three-hour meeting between President Vladimir Putin and U.

Russia's ejection of Ukrainian troops from the Kursk region ends the biggest incursion into Russian territory since World War Two, removing another barrier to a peace deal Moscow was reluctant to conclude with so many enemy troops on its soil.