Russian President Putin thanks North Korean leader Kim for sending troops to Ukraine

Russian President Vladimir Putin thanked North Korean leader Kim Jong-un publicly on September 3, 2025, for sending troops to fight against Ukraine. He made the remarks as the two leaders met on the sidelines of celebrations in Beijing to mark the anniversary of Japan’s formal surrender in World War II. Hours earlier, the pair flanked Chinese President Xi Jinping at a massive military parade for the first such gathering of the three countries’ leaders since the early days of the Cold War.