Vladimir Putin has arrived in Vietnam for talks with its communist leaders as part of his tour of Asia.
Upon landing at Hanoi airport, the Russian president was welcomed by Vietnamese Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha and other government officials.
Putin’s trip to Vietnam comes after a notable visit to Pyongyang, where he and Kim Jong-un signed a mutual defence agreement.
This agreement includes a commitment for both nations to support each other in case of an attack, raising concerns in the West about potential Russian backing for North Korea’s missile and nuclear programmes.
The visit has drawn criticism from the US, a key trading partner of Vietnam, which has voiced worries about Russia’s stance on international law.
This visit marks Putin’s fifth trip to Vietnam as president, underscoring the enduring partnership between Moscow and Hanoi since the Soviet era.
