Ukraine war latest: Putin and Kim sign new defence deal - as UK says 'bizarre scenes' should be warning (2024)

The French defence and technology company Thales has signed three deals with Ukraine, including one announcing the intent to create a joint venture in the country that will boost the delivery of military gear.

"Domains of cooperation include electronic warfare, tactical communications, air defence systems and radars, as well as unmanned aircraft systems," Thales said in a statement.

For context: France and other NATO member states are keen to step up military production capacity in the wake of Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

Last week, NATO defence ministers approved a plan to provide reliable long-term security aid and military training for Ukraine after delays in Western deliveries of funds, arms and ammunition.

Kyiv's Western backers have mostly concentrated their efforts through the Pentagon-run Ukraine defence contact group, a forum for around 50 countries to drum up the weapons and ammunition the country needs most.

The effort has been described as a way to "Trump proof" NATO backing for Ukraine, a reference to concern that Donald Trump might withdraw US support for Kyiv should he return to office.

A Ukrainian soldier who was allegedly beheaded by Russian soldiers has been identified, according to Ukraine's prosecutor general.

In a statement on X, Andriy Kostin said there had been an investigation into the soldier's death in the eastern Donetsk region and he had now been identified.

He said the authorities had also identified the Russian commanders potentially responsible for the beheading.

"This information is currently undergoing verification," he said.

"This fact serves as further evidence that complete disregard for international law and basic human morals is the state policy of the terrorist state of Russia.

"Every world leader who shakes hands with Putin must realise that he is shaking hands with a person who tolerates barbaric murders."

The Ukrainian ferry company Ukrferry will resume services between the Black Sea port of Chornomorsk and Batumi in Georgia.

The ferry service was halted after the Russian invasion in 2022.

But now a ferry has been scheduled to depart Chornomorsk on 9 July and arrive in Georgia on 12 July.

The route map published by the company shows the ferry will widely bypass the Russian-occupied Crimean Peninsula.

For context: Ukraine opened a corridor towards the western Black Sea last year after its forces managed to drive Russian military ships away from there by attacking them with sea drones.

The corridor has allowed Ukraine to increase its grain and metals exports.

It is hoped that the resumption of ferries by Ukrferry will allow Kyiv to gain direct access to its markets in the Caucasus and central Asia.

By Ivor Bennett, Moscow correspondent

There are two schools of thoughts regarding why Vladimir Putin is in North Korea.

One is that Russia doesn't really have any other options right now. Its ongoing invasion of Ukraine has left it isolated from the West, and forced to pivot east. The visit to Pyongyang, and the world's most isolated state, is a reflection of Moscow's desperation, some say.

The opposing view is that Russia does have a lot of options right now. They're talking to Cuba, China, even the Taliban. So others believe this is a calculated move to show what's possible when the West, in Russia's eyes, oversteps the mark.

"Putin is angry," according to Chris Monday, an associate professor at Busan's Dongseo University, in reference to NATO allies, including the UK, giving Ukraine permission to use their weapons to strike inside Russia.

"He feels, from his perspective, that the West has crossed many red lines and he wants to put his foot down."

Either way, whether Russia's leader is going cap-in-hand or shaking his fist, the West will be alarmed at what these closer ties could mean.

There's an assumption in Washington that North Korea is already sending Russia ammunition to use in Ukraine, and there's a concern, articulated by US secretary of state Antony Blinken, that trade will increase.

Beyond that, there's also a fear about what North Korea will get in return - could Moscow pass on aid for Pyongyang's nuclear and missile programmes?

Both sides deny this, but one could argue the agreement they signed today sends the opposite signal.

The "comprehensive strategic partnership pact" includes a mutual defence clause, in case of "aggression", as Mr Putin put it, against either party.

He also said Russia doesn't rule out the "development" of military-technical cooperation between the two. Ominous words for the West, and South Korea especially.

"People are very concerned here," said Mr Monday.

"There's more and more talk, for example, of developing a South Korean nuclear weapon.

"A year ago it seemed an impossibility, but now this is something people talk about."

This isn't how the visit is being talked about on Russian state media, of course. The main talking point has been Mr Putin's warm reception.

"Putin has never been met like this before," gushed one tabloid headline.

"For the sake of meeting Vladimir Vladimirovich, they gathered almost half of the capital," the article continued.

It certainly looked like that - crowds of apparently jubilant North Koreans, waving Russian flags in front of a giant portrait of their guest.

If the US president is seen as the leader of the free world, it feels like Vladimir Putin is being heralded here as the leader of the sanctioned world.

Watch: Mr Kim's ceremonial welcome for Mr Putin...

Ukrainian agriculture has lost $10bn (£7.8bn) in the two years since Russia's invasion, its acting agrarian minister has said.

Losses include the destruction of machinery, costing $5.8bn (£4.5bn), and damage to animal farms, costingmore than $250m (£196m).

"Global food prices grew approximately 35% in 2022," Taras Vysotsky, the minister, said.

"The situation did not stabilise until new export routes were created. So, the Ukrainian agrarian sector needs support to recover."

Mr Vysotsky said long-term projects supporting farming were needed, including financial support provided through the EU Ukraine Facility, a financial instrument dedicated to helping Ukraine.

Once his business in North Korea is wrapped up, Vladimir Putin will quickly be on the move to Vietnam, where he is scheduled to visit for the next two days.

The country is preparing to host the Russian leader, who is expected to arrive later tonight in Hanoi.

Pictures from the country show seamstresses making Russian flags that will line the streets and a motorcade during a security rehearsal near the Hotel Metropole, where Mr Putin is expected to stay.

Vladimir Putin has been photographed driving Kim Jong Un around in a luxury Russian-built Aurus limousine during his visit to Pyongyang today.

The Russian leader presented Mr Kim with a limousine, a tea set and an admiral's dirk, a type of dagger, according to Russia's state news agency TASS.

Mr Putin's visit, which comes as both nations face international isolation, is being watched closely by Seoul and Washington, which have expressed concern about their growing military ties.

Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un have signed a new deal today that includes a vow of mutual aid if either country is attacked.

The agreement, which the leaders said covered areas including security, trade, investment and cultural and humanitarian ties, could mark the strongest connection between Moscow and Pyongyang since the Soviet Union collapsed in 1991.

Both leaders described it as a major upgrade of their ties.

During their meeting today, Mr Kim said: "The relationship between our two countries is at the highest point and incomparable to relations between the DPRK and the Soviet Union."

You can watch what Mr Kim said about the Russian leader's visit below...

Kim Jong Un has described the new deal struck between North Korea and Russia as "peaceful and defensive".

Mr Kim has spent today hosting Vladimir Putin in Pyongyang where the two held lengthy talks.

The Russian president said world affairs and the global agenda dominated the pair's conversation.

Mr Kim described his Russian counterpart as "the dearest friend of the Korean people", saying that "at this moment, when the whole world is paying close attention to Pyongyang, where the friendship mission from Russia has arrived, I stand with Russian comrades - our most honest friends and comrades".

Earlier, North Korea rolled out the red carpet for Mr Putin upon his arrival, with a welcome ceremony in Pyongyang before the two leaders exchanged lavish gifts (see 9.41am post).

Mr Putin later laid a wreath at a monument to soldiers of the Soviet Union who died liberating the Korean Peninsula from Japanese occupation.

A former CIA analyst has branded Vladimir Putin's trip to North Korea as "pretty pathetic".

The Russian president has had the red carpet treatment in Pyongyang as he holds talks with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.

One of the key outcomes of the trip is a new agreement signed between the two nations that vows to protect each other in the event of invasion.

For Sue Mi Terry, a former CIA analyst who is now a director at the Wilson Center thinktank, Mr Putin's visit to Pyongyang highlights how two "pariah states" are cementing their ties despite their isolation from the international community.

"I think it is pretty pathetic that Putin has to resort to relying on [the] 198th-ranked economy in the world to help his war effort," she told BBC News.

"It's all around bad news for the rest of the world."