Russian President Vladimir Putin, on Friday warned South Korea against granting Military assistance in form of sending lethal weapons to Ukraine.
Putin’s comment comes after he signed a new strategic agreement with North Korea, and Seoul announcing that 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.
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”.