Guardian

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Sсholz open to talks with Putin

Newsweek

Russian Troops Just Had Their Deadliest Day of War: Kyiv

Russia has amassed some 50K troops, including at least 10K North Korean soldiers that recently arrived in the country, in an effort to dislodge Ukraine's forces from Russia's Kursk region.

It comes as state media in both Russia and North Korea reported that respective leaders, Vladimir Putin and Kim Jong-un, have in recent days both signed into law a mutual-defense treaty that vows to defend one another in the case of attack.

After launching a surprise invasion of the lightly defended Russian border region in August, Ukrainian forces captured vast swaths of territory with virtually no resistance. Soon after, Ukrainian Pres. Volodymyr Zelenskyy said the territory captured could be used as a bargaining chip in negotiations while military officials said the attack diverted Russian troops from Ukraine.

South China Morning Post

However, that has not been the case and, according to multiple reports, Russia intensified its attacks in eastern Ukraine and has since advanced at its fast rate of the war.

BBC News

Al Jazeera

France 24

The New York Times, which first reported the massing of 50K troops, said that with Russian forces clawing back territory in Kursk and advancing in eastern Ukraine, US intelligence and military officials "have grown more pessimistic about Ukraine’s overall prospects," adding that setbacks are in part due to Ukraine's inability to replenish troop numbers.

The New York Times

In the latest assessment from the Institute for the Study of War (ISW), a US military think tank that tracks troop positions in the conflict, it reported Russian gains near Kupyansk in Kharkiv and Kremmina in Luhansk while adding that in western Donetsk, "Russian forces are successfully leveraging their recent seizure of Vuhledar to make tactically significant gains south of Kurakhove."

Ukrainska Pravda

By fighting these 50K troops on Russian territory, Ukrainian soldiers are keeping these forces away from the frontlines in Ukraine. The country is thankful to its warriors for helping keep the country safe.

Zelenskyy: Our troops are holding back 50,000 Russian soldiers in Kursk Oblast

With the assistance of North Korea, Russia has been able to leverage 50K troops in Kursk without sacrificing its presence in eastern Ukraine, making US officials pessimistic about Ukraine's long-term prospects. These are dangerous times for Ukraine and it might be wise to start considering peace talks.

50,000 Russian and North Korean Troops Mass Ahead of Attack, U.S. Says

There's a 50% chance there will be a bilateral cease-fire or peace agreement between Russia and Ukraine by Dec. 2025, according to the Metaculus prediction community.

50K Russian and North Korean Troops Prepare to Mount Offensive in Russia's Kursk Region

The Spin

Metaculus Prediction

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