Ceding large swathes of Ukrainian land to Russia under a peace proposal suggested by US President Donald Trump would be “a capitulation,” Germany’s defense minister warned on Sunday, as North Korea acknowledged for the first time it had deployed troops to fight for Moscow.

They who fought for justice are all heroes and representatives of the honor of the motherland,” Kim Jong Un said.

North Korea's involvement in the war has sparked fears of global escalation, with Seoul especially concerned of Pyongyang's troops gaining experience.