North Korea sends another 4.8 million artillery shells to Russia. According to Bloomberg, North Korea has sent nearly five million artillery shells to Russia, as reported by South Korea’s Defense Minister, Shin Won-sik. In an interview with Bloomberg News, Shin revealed that at least 10,000 sea containers, potentially holding up to 4.8 million artillery shells, have been dispatched to Russia from North Korea. This shipment aims to bolster Russia’s military supplies in its ongoing conflict with Ukraine. Furthermore, Shin disclosed that North Korea has also provided Russia with dozens of ballistic missiles. In exchange, Russia has supplied North Korea with technology to develop a spy satellite network and conventional weapons, including tanks and aircraft. The South Korean newspaper DongA Ilbo mentioned that Russian President Vladimir Putin is expected to visit North Korea next week, marking his first visit since July 2000. This visit is likely to raise concerns among the US and its allies about the military support bolstering the Kremlin’s efforts in Ukraine. Despite North Korea and Russia denying these arms transfers, commercial satellite images and US intelligence data indicate regular shipments from North Korean ports to Russian facilities.
Putin has yet another token ceasefire proposal. In a separate development, Russian dictator Vladimir Putin has outlined conditions for ceasing hostilities in Ukraine. He demanded the complete withdrawal of Ukrainian forces from the Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson, and Zaporizhzhia regions within their administrative borders. Additionally, Putin insisted that Ukraine renounce its aspirations to join NATO, claiming that if these conditions were met, Russia would immediately cease fire and begin negotiations. Putin insisted that his proposal aims at a permanent resolution rather than a temporary ceasefire, adding that the war’s end should also include Ukraine “adopting a neutral, non-nuclear status and lifting sanctions against Russia.” This proposal comes as a desperate attempt to undermine the upcoming Peace Summit in Switzerland. Despite these overtures, Russia continues its daily strikes on Ukrainian infrastructure, maintaining pressure on both Ukraine and the international community.
Belarus has sent weapons to Azerbaijan. Meanwhile, Politico reported that Belarus has secretly supplied weapons to Azerbaijan, leading to Armenia’s intent to exit the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO). Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan announced that no Armenian official would visit Belarus as long as Alexander Lukashenko remains in power. This stance comes after revelations that Belarus provided significant military assistance to Azerbaijan between 2018 and 2022, including upgrading old artillery systems and supplying new electronic warfare and drone systems. This support for Azerbaijan, which left the CSTO in 1999, has exacerbated tensions with Armenia, undermining the CSTO’s credibility and Russian influence in the region. The leaked documents revealing these arms transfers have further strained relations, pushing Armenia closer to withdrawing from the CSTO.
Ukraine and the United States sign a security agreement. In a significant diplomatic and military move, Ukraine and the United States have signed a 10-year security agreement. Signed by Presidents Volodymyr Zelensky and Joe Biden during the G7 summit, this agreement commits the US to providing a broad range of military aid to Ukraine, supporting its transition towards potential NATO membership. While the agreement does not offer explicit security guarantees akin to NATO’s collective defence, it marks a substantial step in US support for Ukraine. The deal includes ongoing training for Ukrainian forces, expanded cooperation in arms production, and enhanced intelligence sharing. Zelensky hailed the agreement as a historic milestone in US-Ukraine relations, emphasizing its importance in saving lives and strengthening Ukraine’s defence capabilities. The US reaffirmed that no American troops would be deployed to Ukraine but committed to preparing Ukrainian forces to meet NATO standards. In the event of a new Russian attack, the US would conduct immediate consultations with Ukraine to determine further actions.
