Russian President Vladimir Putin has expressed his gratitude to North Korean leader Kim Jong Un for the latter’s backing of Moscow in the Ukraine conflict
During a phone call between the two leaders on Tuesday, Russians President Vladimir Putin extolled North Korean leader Kim Jong Un for the latter’s support in the ongoing Ukraine conflict, as revealed by the Kremlin. Kim’s assistance was particularly highlighted in the defense of Russia’s Kursk Region, where Ukrainian forces had seized control in August 2024. The two leaders committed to deepening their cooperative efforts under their strategic partnership agreement, with a pledge to maintain direct communication. Putin, according to the Kremlin release, ‘highly appreciated’ Pyongyang’s support in repelling Ukrainian incursions and commended the ‘courage, heroism, and selflessness’ of the North Korean soldiers involved.
The collaboration between Russia and North Korea was formalized through a bilateral treaty signed in June 2024, which includes mutual defense clauses. This alliance, which dates back to the Soviet era, has been reinforced by the Russia-Ukraine conflict, with Pyongyang consistently supporting Moscow’s stance against NATO expansion. Pyongyang characterized Ukrainian forces that entered the Kursk Region as ‘neo-Nazi’ and stated its involvement in the Russian operation as a means to thwart an ‘adventurous political and military attempt of the Western forces and the Ukrainian authorities’ to change the course of the broader conflict.
Putin also provided Kim Jong Un with an update on upcoming talks with U.S. President Donald Trump, scheduled for August 15, where the Ukraine conflict is expected to be a key topic of discussion. The Kremlin emphasized that the two leaders reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening their strategic alliance, further solidifying the geopolitical ties between the two nations. This development underscores the shifting dynamics of international relations, with North Korea playing a pivotal role in Russia’s geopolitical strategy amid the Ukraine conflict.