Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov made these statements in response to a question regarding a report by the Russian foreign intelligence agency SVR, according to which France is preparing to send a military contingent of 2,000 soldiers and officers to Ukraine.

He also stated that Russia cannot assess the progress of peace negotiations with Ukraine because Kiev has suspended them and is unwilling to answer questions posed by Moscow.

Foreign volunteers fought on both sides of the conflict between Russia and Ukraine.

More than 10,000 North Korean soldiers were sent to fight on Russia's side in exchange for economic and military technological assistance, according to Ukrainian and South Korean estimates.

South Korea's intelligence agency estimated in September that about 2,000 North Korean soldiers had been killed.