Putin thanks Kim for his “unwavering support” for Ukraine

Like best friends. Russian President Vladimir Putin thanked North Korean leader Kim Jong-un on Wednesday for his “unwavering support” for the invasion of Ukraine, during a summit between the two in Pyongyang, where a new bilateral strategic partnership agreement is expected to be signed.

Putin also announced that the two leaders will discuss “a new document” that will serve as a basis for bilateral relations, at the start of the meeting taking place at the Kumsusan Palace in the North Korean capital, according to the Russian agency TASS.

“Russia appreciates the consistent and unwavering support of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (the official name of North Korea) for Russian policies, including with regard to Ukraine,” Putin said at the start of his meeting with Kim.

“Today a new fundamental document is ready that will lay the foundations for our long-term relations,” Putin said, adding that the two countries “have made great strides” in strengthening their bilateral relations.

Putin also invited Kim to visit Moscow. The Russian president’s previous visit to the secretive communist country dates back to 2000.

Moscow and Pyongyang have been allies since the end of the Korean War (1950-1953) and have strengthened their relations since the start of the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.

For months, Western powers have accused North Korea of ​​supplying Russia with ammunition for its war in Ukraine in exchange for technological, diplomatic and food assistance.