Russian President Vladimir Putin arrived in Vietnam on June 20 for discussions with the country’s Communist leaders. This follows the signing of a defense agreement with North Korea during his two-nation Asian tour. Putin’s visit was met with a formal welcome at Hanoi’s airport by Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha. In a local newspaper, Putin praised Vietnam’s pragmatic approach to the Ukraine crisis. Despite its neutral “bamboo diplomacy,” Vietnam’s refusal to condemn Russia’s actions in Ukraine has drawn Western criticism. This marks Putin’s third visit to an Asian nation, following China and North Korea, and his first visit to Vietnam since 2017.
Putin Visits Vietnam After Strengthening Ties with North Korea
![](https://affairsace-media.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/2024/06/20081132/Vietnam_Russia_32661-860x484.jpg)