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.

North Korea confirmed for the first time on Monday that it had sent troops to fight for Russia in the war in Ukraine under orders from leader Kim Jong Un.

The Trump administration has been trying to broker a peace deal between Ukraine and Russia to halt the three-year conflict.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio says the U.S. may withdraw from mediation talks with Ukraine and Russia if President Donald Trump's administration doesn't see progress.

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on Sunday that a peace deal between Russia and Ukraine needs to happen soon, adding that the Trump administration will spend the coming week trying to determine whether to continue as a mediator.