Putin Updates Kim Jong Un on Alaska Meeting with Trump in Phone Call: Report
Russian President Vladimir Putin is gearing up for his upcoming summit with US President Donald Trump, set to be held in Anchorage, Alaska, on August 15. The high-profile meeting is expected to focus on efforts to end the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict and comes amid intensified geopolitical manoeuvring.
In the run-up to the summit, Putin held a telephone conversation with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, according to Russian state news agency RIA Novosti. Quoting a statement from the Kremlin press service, the report said Putin briefed the leader of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) about his planned talks with Trump.
“The President of Russia warmly congratulated the Korean leader on the upcoming national holiday – the 80th anniversary of Korea’s liberation from Japanese colonial rule, celebrated on August 15. Kim Jong Un noted that the DPRK regards this holiday as a shared occasion and remembers the role of the Red Army in the fight against the invaders,” the Kremlin statement read.
The two leaders discussed a range of bilateral issues, including strengthening diplomatic relations, enhancing neighbourly ties, and expanding cooperation between Moscow and Pyongyang. Putin also conveyed his thanks to Kim for North Korea’s ongoing political support, particularly citing solidarity shown during Russia’s military actions in Ukraine. Specifically, he expressed appreciation for North Korea’s backing during the “liberation of the Kursk region from the formations of the Kiev regime” in August 2024.
The conversation, held just days before Putin’s scheduled meeting with Trump, highlights Moscow’s continued efforts to secure the support of its allies as Ukraine seeks greater assistance from European countries and NATO partners.
In a related development, Reuters reported that the Russian State Duma announced on Tuesday that its Speaker, Vyacheslav Volodin, will lead a parliamentary delegation to Pyongyang on August 14-15. The visit will coincide with North Korea’s celebrations marking the 80th anniversary of liberation from Japanese rule at the end of World War II.
Although the full list of delegation members has not yet been made public, Volodin — a close ally of President Putin and a regular head of Russian parliamentary missions abroad — is confirmed to participate in the commemorative events in the North Korean capital.
