Russian President Vladimir Putin suggested on March 27 that countries friendly to Russia might take part in future peace talks aimed at ending Moscow’s full-scale war in Ukraine. This was reported by The Kyiv Independent.
Speaking during a visit with the crew of the Arkhangelsk nuclear submarine in Murmansk, Putin named China, India, Brazil, South Africa, and North Korea as potential participants in the negotiations.
He referred to North Korea as a “partner,” noting that a military cooperation treaty signed between the two countries last year has now come into effect.
The agreement commits each side to support the other “with all available means” if either is attacked. According to Putin, cooperation with Pyongyang continues in both military-technical and defense areas.
Putin also criticized the West, claiming that European countries are “constantly trying” to deceive Russia during negotiations.
While he emphasized that Russia “welcomes the resolution of any conflicts by peaceful means,” he added: “Just not at our expense.”
On March 11, Ukraine accepted a U.S.-proposed 30-day ceasefire, saying it would agree to the pause if Russia does the same. However, Moscow has yet to accept the offer.
North Korea has become a major military supplier for Russia, delivering artillery shells, missiles, and even troops, reportedly in exchange for oil products and advanced missile technology.
Last fall, as many as 12,000 North Korean soldiers were reportedly deployed to Russia’s Kursk Oblast to help reinforce Russian units against Ukrainian cross-border advances.
Ukrainian forces initially gained control of around 1,300 square kilometers (roughly 500 square miles) of Russian territory before Russian troops, supported by North Korean reinforcements, launched a counteroffensive earlier this month and regained key positions, including the town of Sudzha.
In January and February, North Korea sent around 3,000 more troops to Russia to help offset battlefield losses, according to an AP report from March 27.
