Vladimir Putin invited Kim Jong-un to Russia during a high-profile meeting in Beijing, strengthening their alliance as Ukraine suffers renewed bombardments. The two authoritarian leaders, who were attending China’s military parade with Xi Jinping, walked together into Tiananmen Square before holding a two-hour discussion.
Putin extended the invitation through interpreters while Kim embraced him afterwards, promising to support Moscow’s military efforts against Ukraine as much as possible. Kim’s possible trip would mark only his third foreign visit in six years, following last year’s journey to eastern Russia and his current Beijing arrival aboard an armoured train.
North Korea remains among Russia’s closest allies since the invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Pyongyang has supplied artillery shells, missiles and even thousands of soldiers to Russia’s Kursk region, where Ukrainian forces briefly crossed the border.
Putin praised North Korean troops, saying they fought courageously and heroically, reinforcing the growing depth of military cooperation between Moscow and Pyongyang. Russia and North Korea cemented their partnership last year with a pact obligating both nations to provide military cooperation between Moscow and Pyongyang. Analysts warn this pact could further entrench North Korea’s role in Russia’s ongoing war in Ukraine, drawing international scrutiny.
During the same Beijing event, Russia unleashed another massive overnight strike on Ukraine, firing roughly 500 drones and two dozen missiles. The assault damaged energy infrastructure in western and central Ukraine, injuring at least four railway workers and triggering Poland’s air defences to respond.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky condemned the attacks, accusing Putin of acting with impunity while urging stronger international sanctions against Moscow’s war economy. He argued that the lack of global pressure allowed Russia’s aggression to continue meaningful deterrence.
Meanwhile, Putin confirmed he reached an understanding with Donald Trump during their Alaska meeting, expressing optimism for possible ceasefire talks involving Ukraine. Still, Kremlin officials objected to Trump’s proposals, leaving uncertainty over genuine prospects for negotiated peace.
The Beijing gathering highlighted Xi Jinping’s balancing act between his declared limitless partnership with Russia and China’s desire to avoid Western sanctions. Analysts believe Xi remains cautious about openly endorsing North Korea’s direct involvement.
