BRUSSELS -- Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Thursday his government has intelligence information that 10,000 troops from North Korea are being prepared to join Russian forces fighting against his country, warning that a third nation wading into the hostilities would turn the conflict into a "world war."

North Korea is already preparing a contingent to fight against Ukraine. It's not just infantry, but also specialists from various military services, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says at a press conference following his participation in a meeting of the European Council.

The Ukrainian leader’s comments raised the stakes for his Western allies as he met with European Union leaders and then NATO defense ministers to discuss his “ victory plan ” to end the country’s devastating war with Russia.