One of the key supporters in the war against Ukraine/ Putin welcomes North Korea's top diplomat to the Kremlin

2025-10-28 11:19:00, Kosova & Bota CNA

One of the key supporters in the war against Ukraine/ Putin welcomes North

Russian President Vladimir Putin welcomed North Korea's top diplomat to the Kremlin on October 27 as Russian forces continue their offensive in eastern Ukraine, advancing on a key city amid heavy fighting.

North Korean media said Foreign Minister Choe Son Hui discussed "many future projects to continuously strengthen and develop" the bilateral relationship, also conveying to Putin the "brotherly respect" of leader Kim Jong Un. No other details about the meeting were given.

North Korea has become a key supporter of Russia's nearly four-year war against Ukraine, sending artillery, missiles and troops to Russia. Pyongyang has received Russian military technology and economic aid in return.

The visit by North Korea's top diplomat comes as Russia struggles to maintain recruitment levels in the face of mounting casualties and low financial incentives. Last week, Russia announced it would aim to use reservists to protect civilian infrastructure after a surge in Ukrainian drone attacks.

Such a move would potentially allow Moscow to have more troops to fight on the front lines, where it is facing heavy losses in its bid to seize more Ukrainian territory. Russia is also reportedly looking to recruit more foreign fighters to fill its ranks.

By far, North Korea has been the largest supplier of foreign troops to Russia, reportedly sending 11,000 soldiers last year to help push back Ukrainian troops from the Russian region of Kursk. North Korean media did not say whether Choe discussed sending more troops to Russia.

Despite heavy losses on the front, Russian armed forces continue to slowly advance in eastern Ukraine. Around 200 Russian troops have entered the key logistical town of Pokrovsk in the Donetsk region.

In his evening address, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Russia has massed large offensive forces near Pokrovsk. He said there is currently “significant offensive activity” around the city, including inside it, but did not give an assessment of the situation.

Russia has been trying to take Pokrovsk for more than a year.

Meanwhile, Zelensky said he had held a meeting with manufacturers of drones and long-range missiles, saying he was ready to sign three-year contracts with companies that produce the most effective weapons. The Ukrainian leader added that funding for these weapons has been secured.

Ukraine sees long-range weapons as a key tool to ending Europe's longest war in decades. It has used Ukrainian-made drones and missiles to carry out strikes deep inside Russia, targeting oil refineries, a major source of Russian revenue. However, Ukraine is seeking more powerful Western missiles, including the U.S.-made Tomahawk, to attack those targets.

Russian oil exports account for about a third of the total revenue of the Russian federal budget and are crucial for financing the Kremlin's war. The attacks on the refineries come at a time when oil prices are falling and Moscow is facing the toughest round of Western sanctions, deepening the country's economic woes.

Last week, the US imposed sanctions on Russia's two largest oil producers and warned that third parties that buy their products, such as China and India, could face penalties. The sanctions followed a similar measure imposed by the United Kingdom and sanctions imposed by the European Union on the Russian oil industry. /REL