Sending weapons to Ukraine would be big mistake, Putin warns South Korea

Russian President Vladimir Putin, on Thursday, warned South Korea that sending lethal weapons to Ukraine would be a “big mistake.”

Putin’s comment comes a day after he signed a new strategic agreement with North Korea, and Seoul announced it would consider arming Ukraine in response to Russia and North Korea signing a mutual defence pact.

Speaking during a visit to Vietnam, Putin said, “With regard to deliveries of lethal weapons to Ukraine to combat zones, this would be a very big mistake.

“If that happens, then we will take the according decision, which the current leadership of South Korea will probably not like.”

The Russian leader had earlier met his Vietnamese counterpart as he began a state visit to Hanoi, a day after signing a mutual defence pact with North Korea’s Kim Jong Un.

Putin and Kim inked a strategic treaty at a summit in Pyongyang that included a commitment to come to each other’s aid if attacked. Kim also pledged his “full support” for Russia’s war on Ukraine.

Washington and its allies accuse North Korea of supplying ammunition and missiles to Russia for its war in Ukraine, and the deal has fuelled fears of more deliveries.

The US State Department said deepening Russia-North Korea ties were “of great concern”, while a top Ukrainian official accused Pyongyang of abetting Moscow’s “mass murder of Ukrainians”.

Putin was welcomed by newly installed Vietnamese President To Lam and a military guard at the presidential palace in Hanoi.

He will hold talks with Lam and later meet other senior Vietnamese leaders, including Nguyen Phu Trong, the powerful general secretary of the ruling Communist Party.

AFP

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