North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has pledged full support to Russia in its war against Ukraine, accusing the United States of direct military intervention. The conflict continues to escalate, with heavy fighting reported in eastern Ukraine, particularly around Donbass. In Berlin, Chancellor Olaf Scholz criticized opposition leader Friedrich Merz’s approach to Ukraine policy. Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy expressed a desire for NATO protection over Ukrainian territories. The situation remains fluid, with Russian defense forces claiming to have destroyed several Ukrainian drones.