Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has claimed that Ukraine's intelligence services have obtained comprehensive information suggesting Russia is preparing for an expanded military campaign later this year, with no indication that peace negotiations are part of Moscow's immediate plans.

According to Zelensky, intelligence assessments indicate that Russian President Vladimir Putin is laying the groundwork for broader mobilization efforts to sustain the war in Ukraine. He argued that Russia's current military strategy remains focused on continuing the conflict rather than seeking a diplomatic settlement.

Highlighting the scale of the fighting, Zelensky said that approximately 221,000 people have joined the Russian Armed Forces during the first seven months of the year. He also claimed that Russian military casualties over the same period have reached nearly 225,500 personnel, including around 131,000 killed and almost 93,000 wounded. He further alleged that many of the wounded have suffered severe injuries due to what he described as inadequate frontline medical care.

The Ukrainian president asserted that Moscow intends to send even more troops into the conflict, saying that the Kremlin is presenting its plans under different political messaging while continuing military preparations behind the scenes.

Zelensky emphasized that Ukraine, together with its international partners, must maintain pressure on Russia to encourage an end to the war. He argued that continued sanctions, military assistance, and long-range strikes against Russian military targets are intended to increase the costs of the conflict for Moscow and strengthen incentives for pursuing peace.

He also claimed that Ukrainian long-range operations are having an impact inside Russia, stating that more Russian citizens are becoming aware of the consequences of the war and questioning whether the conflict should continue.

In addition to concerns over Russian mobilization, Zelensky warned about growing military cooperation between Russia and North Korea. He claimed that Moscow is seeking to receive an additional 30,000 North Korean troops and that preparations have reportedly been underway since June in Russia's Voronezh region to accommodate them.

The Ukrainian leader further alleged that North Korea is preparing to transfer additional ballistic missile launchers to Russia. He argued that such cooperation extends beyond the battlefield in Ukraine and could enhance North Korea's military capabilities by providing combat experience, improving weapons systems, and strengthening missile operations.

According to Zelensky, this developing partnership represents not only a challenge for Ukraine but also a broader security concern for countries across Asia that fall within the range of North Korean missile systems.

He concluded by stating that Ukraine would continue working with its allies to counter what it views as expanding military cooperation between Russia and North Korea while maintaining efforts to defend against Russian aggression.

Disclaimer: This article is based on statements made by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. The claims regarding Russian mobilization, casualty figures, intelligence assessments, and North Korean military involvement have not been independently verified. Russia has not publicly confirmed these allegations.