(RepublicanPress.org) – The Kyiv Independent’s latest figures show that Russia has suffered massive losses of troops (534,360) and equipment since it launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine. As the Russo-Ukrainian War winds its way toward its third anniversary, Russian President Vladimir Putin recently traveled to North Korea to renew a military assistance deal with Kim Jong-un.
These are the indicative estimates of Russia’s combat losses as of June 23, according to the Armed Forces of Ukraine. pic.twitter.com/54Cl2wOFI7
— The Kyiv Independent (@KyivIndependent) June 23, 2024
On June 20, North Korean state media outlet the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) published an article confirming that the “respected Comrade Kim” and “Comrade” Putin had signed a new Treaty on Comprehensive Strategic Partnership the previous day. The two leaders took a photograph together to commemorate the signing of “a historic treaty to be specially recorded in the history of [North Korean]-Russia relations.”
Kim issued a statement after the signing ceremony praising the importance of the new military treaty. He noted that the agreement elevated relations between Pyongyang and Moscow. KCNA reported that Kim stressed that the alliance established a legal framework for meeting both countries’ far-reaching objective of building powerful nation-states while defending regional and global security in conformity with their mutual interests.
The North Korean leader also expressed his firm belief that the treaty would help accelerate the creation of a new world order free from the high-handed practices, hegemony, and domination currently pervading global relations. Kim also spoke of the importance of fulfilling the historic tasks necessary to solidify the friendship and partnership between the two nations.
KCNA reported that Putin echoed that sentiment, embellishing his remarks with the usual dramatic flare typical of North Korean state media outlets. However, Putin painted a different picture while speaking with Russian media outlets shortly after his return.
The Russian leader downplayed the importance of the new military assistance deal during a Kremlin press conference. Asked about the treaty’s terms, Putin said, “To be honest,” he “did not have time” to read the full document. He noted that “this treaty is nothing new. We signed [it] because the old agreement expired.”
“All the clauses were the same in our previous agreement,” Putin explained, adding, “There is nothing new here” from the original 1962 treaty.
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